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For more than 25 years, Linda Schaaf has been involved in
radiation oncology. A former radiation therapist, she joined
Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) in1988 as technical
coordinator. Schaaf was part of the team that evaluated and
selected the IMPAC system for use at LIJMC.
Smooth Implementation
“I was pleasantly surprised that the implementation of our
radiation oncology system went so smoothly,” Schaaf recalls.
Completed in September 1999, the system has had several upgrades
since then. “IMPAC support has been consistently excellent. If
we’re having a problem, they use Webex® to log right into our
system to help resolve the problem. IMPAC not only solves our
problems, but we always learn from them.”
Integration Expedites Efficiency
While some centers phase in IMPAC systems module by module,
LIJMC began by implementing as many as they could right from the
start. According to Schaaf, IMPAC’s treatment verification,
scheduling, image management, transcription, and reporting
programs, made a “huge change for us.” The integration of the
systems, which provides all staff members with instant online
access to the information they need, has significantly expedited
processes and increased efficiency. “The therapists like having
work stations in the treatment rooms, so they can view patient
information while in the treatment room; and the physicians like
being able to check images from their offices or wherever they
happen to be,” says Schaaf.
Confidence Booster
Efficiency wasn’t the only thing that improved with the IMPAC
system. “Hard to quantify but very much appreciated by all of us
is our greater confidence of accuracy,” observes Schaaf. “Using
the system’s quality check lists assure us that certain tasks
are completed in the proper order and nothing is overlooked.”
Other features that simultaneously raise efficiency and accuracy
include scanning bar codes of patient IDs, which automatically
bring up their information and photograph within their
electronic medical record (EMR), and having digital images of
patients’ set-up positions, which speed site identification and
assure treatment accuracy. Schaaf adds, “I’m shocked when
centers don’t have the verify and record system, and I know of
no system better than IMPAC’s.”
Interactive User Meetings
As a member of IMPAC’s Radiation Oncology Advisory Board, Schaaf
attended a board meeting during the 2004 annual conference of
the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).
She has also attended IMPAC’s annual IMPAC Users Meeting, where
nearly 1000 attendees from centers across the country learned
about IMPAC’s latest technological advancements and also
discussed issues they want IMPAC to address in future product
offerings and upgrades. “Both meetings are very valuable,” she
explains. “Getting together at user meetings is a good
opportunity to network with IMPAC users and learn from each
other. And, as part of the advisory board, I find it very
satisfying to meet with IMPAC and provide suggestions on product
functions based on my experience. Whenever there’s an IMPAC
meeting, I always attend them and come away with useful ideas.
The ways IMPAC can increase efficiency and improve quality of
care seem endless.” |
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Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park,
New York.
The staff at Long Island Jewish Medical Center |
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