NOTTINGHAM, England, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Delivering Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) effectively and safely involves careful coordination of sophisticated systems, such as the therapy machine and its imaging subsystems, as well as the electronic medical record (EMR) used to schedule and record patient treatments. Clinicians at Nottingham University Hospital are piloting their new IGRT program with SYNERGISTIQ(TM), Elekta's workflow management system for Elekta Synergy(R) linear accelerators. Nottingham's Radiotherapy Services Manager, Russell Hart, reports that SYNERGISTIQ is streamlining IGRT by orchestrating MOSAIQ(R) EMR and Elekta Synergy activities from a single workstation.

"The cone beam CT capabilities provided by the two Synergy systems we acquired are new to this department," Hart says. "Given that, and looking at the high potential workflow for these systems - as many as 40 patients per day per system - we wanted the IGRT be as efficient as possible. We were impressed with how SYNERGISTIQ provided a very streamlined workflow for the radiographer, who operates the linac.

The fact that Nottingham already operated four Elekta Precise Treatment System(TM) linacs did not confer an advantage to the company during equipment evaluations, as National Health Service (NHS) guidelines for major procurements require that centers evaluate the solutions of all relevant providers, Hart notes.

"Only Elekta was able to offer that single workstation for the operator, which the others claimed to have but, in reality, did not," he says. "That meant that Elekta presented a total solution that included workflow and oncology information management, as well as the Elekta Synergy treatment systems and treatment planning with Monaco(R)."

MOSAIQ oncology information system went clinical at Nottingham in June 2010, followed by the Elekta Synergy systems with SYNERGISTIQ in October and November.

Implementing a streamlined IGRT workflow

"The systems' cone beam CT is currently undergoing commissioning for regular clinical use, but we have seen the impact of SYNERGISTIQ on IGRT workflow involving individual patients, and it's great," he says. "It's going to allow the operator to perform all IGRT functions at the SYNERGISTIQ workstation, rather than having to move to different workspaces, monitors and keyboards. That includes basic treatment readiness, imaging, image analysis interacting with MOSAIQ, interacting with the cone beam CT - all from one workstation."

According to Hart, another advantage, enabled by Auto DICOM push, is that all patient images will be available via the patient's electronic medical record - without having to go into the separate imaging database.

"This means you can distribute those images across your department via MOSAIQ, so doctors can access MOSAIQ and review images at a location outside of the radiation oncology department," Hart says. "SYNERGISTIQ unites patient records, scheduling, treatment coordination and images all in one tool. This will completely streamline the whole IGRT process."

To learn more about SYNERGISTIQ, visit http://www.elekta.com/SYNERGISTIQ.