Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy Treatment Facility Planning and Design
Patient and work flow through a busy radiotherapy department is crucial. Poor work flow has been identified as a major contributor towards incidents. We are able to assist with the planning and design of Radiotherapy treatment facilities including advice on work flow pathways. We strongly recommend that you engage with a medical physicist and/or senior therapy radiographer during the planning and design process to establish departmental needs and patient flow as it is very difficult to accommodate these once building has begun.
Radiation Shielding Design
We are able to carry out the appropriate radiotherapy linear accelerator bunker shielding calculations and make recommendations on bunker wall thickness. We are also able to perform neutron shielding calculations for bunker doors for linacs with an energy greater than 10MV. Accurate shielding thickness calculations are essential to reduce building costs.
Bunker Radiation Surveys
We do a full 360° survey including roof and basement if necessary. A report detailing the transmission of each barrier is provided. If shielding is inadequate we can make recommendations for remedial action.
Equipment Specification and Requirements
We can provide detailed equipment specifications for government and other tenders. To keep costs down we can specify only the equipment you need.
Assistance With Obtaining Quotations and Engaging Vendors
We have good relationships with all the major role players in the field and can engage with them to provide you with the best solution to your requirements.
On Site Inspections and Site Readiness
Each vendor has a specific list of site requirements. We can perform site inspections and confirm site readiness prior to installation.
Linear Accelerator Commissioning and Acceptance
Commissioning is a time-consuming and exacting process. Your treatment is only as good as the data you get. We are able to commission to a variety of levels. Some possible scenarios are:
- Customer Acceptance tests only
- Customer Acceptance tests and beam data acquisition
- Beam data acquisition only
- Full commissioning to regulatory requirements including Customer Acceptance tests, mechanical parameters, beam data acquisition and other SASQUART/TG-142 baseline tests.
- Commissioning of auxillary physics equipment such as invivo diodes, 2D and 3D arrays, etc.
- IMRT/VMAT commissioning
- Stereotactic radiosurgery commissioning
As far as possible we prefer to involve the local physicists in the commissioning process, but even if this does not occur we will still be available after the commissioning to provide assistance.
Beam Commissioning and Data Acquisition
Your treatment plans are only as good as the data in your treatment planning system. It is important that the beam data gathering process is carried out by experienced and knowledgeable professionals. We are able to gather data for a variety of treatment planning systems.
Treatment Planning Beam Modelling, Commissioning and Acceptance
Currently we can provide beam modelling for Eclipse and XiO treatment planning systems (TPS). Other systems may be available on request. Beam model validation can be provided for all TPS’s.
Oncology Information System (Record and Verify) Commissioning and Acceptance
We provide validation of the information transfer accuracy of your Oncology Information System. We can also perform end to end validation of your treatment chain.
Isotope Therapy
We can provide support, including licensing and patient monitoring, for isotope therapy for a variety of isotopes such as I-131, Zevalin and SIR Spheres (Y-90/S-90) and Xofigo (Ra-223).
Developing and Monitoring Quality Assurance Programmes
An embedded quality assurance programme is essential to ensure correct treatment. We can assist in drawing up a comprehensive quality assurance framework and implementing an ongoing quality control programme.
Regulatory Compliance
We are able to draw up the necessary documentation to obtain an authority to treat as specified by Radiation Control, SAHPRA South Africa.
Training
Yenzakahle recognises that you should never stop learning. We provide ongoing CPD accredited training programs in a variety of topics. Learning does not stop when you leave the classroom and we believe learning should be a continuous process.
Eye Plaque Brachytherapy
We provide support for Ru-106 and Sr-90 eye plaque brachytherapy programs including site and source inspection, dose calculations and dose time checks.
Prostate Seed Implants
A medical physicist is an essential member of the prostate brachytherapy seed implant team. We provide support for prostate seed implants including dose calculations, real time planning and theatre support.