Spanish risk management framework across 17 radiation oncology centers during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our healthcare systems and the rapid introduction of new protocols that have been required to keep patients and workforce safe. In order to maintain activity with radiotherapy clinical assistance, we have implemented different measures in our centers from a patient and staff safety perspective.

Two months of radiation oncology in the heart of Italian “red zone” during COVID-19 pandemic: paving a safe path over thin ice

“…The experience of 17 Spanish centers reported in a recent paper [27] support the feasibility of continuing RT during COVID-19 pandemic. Fourteen of 1208 patients on active treatment developed COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR.…”

Impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic on Radiotherapy-Treated Patients with Cancer: A Single-Center Descriptive Study

“…By organizing staff training, optimizing the treatment process for radiotherapy patients, strengthening disinfection and other protective measures, Hubei Cancer Hospital effectively ensured the safety of the radiotherapy center and a smooth treatment process for patients to avoid cross-infection between medical staff and patients. 17 The experience of other centers [18][19][20][21] supports the feasibility and safety of continuing radiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic via the adoption of reasonable preventive measures.…”

Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Cancer patients are at increased risk of COVID-19-related complications [4] . Although RT services continued, important changes were implemented rapidly to enhance patient and staff protection against infection, including treatment delay or RT schedule alterations [2] , [3] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] . This also affected medical physicists (MPs), who are key healthcare professionals in sustaining safe, effective, and efficient RT under constraints of social distancing and national/regional pandemic-related guidelines [13] .…”

“…Researchers that mostly have type-4 tasks were most likely to work from home while clinical MPs needed to work on-site and/or on shift [13] , [14] , [15] . Management MPs were involved in decision making and liaising between hospital administration and clinical staff [9] . Thus, MPs may have had widely diverse experiences during COVID-19 due to different roles and responsibilities.…”

“…RT postponement when clinically supported, or hypofractionation) and to limit interaction between team-members (e.g. shift work) [2] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [16] , [17] , [18] . These were considered a “contingency standard of care” in an “early pandemic scenario” while more drastic resource shortages and patient triage were anticipated in a “second (later) pandemic scenario” [19] , [20] .…”