Prevention of Radiation Therapy Treatment Deviations by a Novel Combined Biometric, Radiofrequency Identification,...

To evaluate the impact of Varian Identify, a novel combined radiofrequency identification, biometric and surface-matching technology, on its potential for patient safety and prevention of radiation therapy treatment deviations.

One hundred eight radiation therapy treatment deviation reports at our facility over the past 8 years were analyzed. Three major categories were defined based on the time point of occurrence: physician order deviations (19.4%), treatment-planning deviations (24.1%), and machine treatment deviations (56.5%). The impact of Identify on potential prevention of machine treatment deviations was analyzed. A failure mode and effects analysis was performed on the 5 most frequently occurring errors preventable with Identify. Safety analysis of the Identify system was reported based on 3.5 years of clinical data post-Identify system installation on 3 treatment vaults.

Of the 61 machine treatment deviations, 47 (77%) were interpreted as being preventable by using Identify. Our failure mode and effects analysis showed reductions in all risk priority numbers post-Identify application. Safety analysis of the Identify system from our direct observation that for approximately 7 cumulative years of Identify use in 3 different treatment vaults, where 9 deviations would have been expected to occur over this combined period, zero machine treatment events occurred.

The combination of Identify biometric, radiofrequency identification, and surface-matching technologies was observed to enable an effective process for enhancing safety and efficiency of radiation therapy treatment. A significant reduction in machine-related deviations was observed.