Workload modeling for teletherapy unit

Aims : This study aims to derive a radiotherapy workload model using a prospectively collected dataset of patient and treatment information from a teletherapy treatment unit.
Materials and Methods : Information about all individual radiotherapy treatment was collected for two weeks from the Phoenix unit in our department. This information included diagnosis, treatment site, treatment time, fields per fraction, technique, use of blocks and wedges. Data were collected for two weeks (10 working days) in January 2008. During this time, 45 patients were treated with 450 fractions of external beam radiotherapy in Phoenix unit.
Results : The mean fraction duration, irradiation time and setup time were 9.55 minutes, 1.84 minutes and 7.66 minutes respectively. A mathematical workload model was derived using the average fraction duration time, total irradiation time and setup time of different types of treatment. A simple software program (Workload Calculation Chart) was also constructed in Microsoft Excel using the derived algorithm. The model based software program was tested and applied for one year and found that it can be used effectively to describe workload of teletherapy unit.
Conclusion : Proposed methodology for workload modeling of teletherapy unit and the workload calculation software is very effective to quantitatively plan/calculate the optimal workload which will satisfy both the patient care administrator and radiation therapy technologists.