The Changing Structure of Radiation Oncology: Implications for the Era of Managed Care

This report presents results from the facilities surveys that are useful for radiation oncology practices facing the challenges of managed care. Facilities surveys collect data from the entire census of facilities practicing megavoltage radiation therapy. Data include equipment, personnel, and patient load. The data presented show that most, but not all, facilities throughout the United States are adequately equipped in terms of highest energy treatment machine, type of treatment planning computer, simulation, and quality assurance programs. The data also present the variation in percentage of new cancer cases receiving radiation therapy and repeat patients as a percentage of new radiation therapy cases by census region. The data show trends in patient load per type of personnel for academic, hospital-based, and freestanding facilities in 1994 show that academic facilities are larger and treat more patients per treatment machine. Academic facilities used more therapists per machine than other facilities.