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Radiation too high in CT scans |
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AUSTRALIAN CT scans have been found to generate up to a third more radiation than necessary to yield a clear diagnostic image, needlessly exposing patients to an increased risk of cancer.
The findings have emerged amid concerns about the growth in referrals for CT scans and as radiation safety experts and radiologists prepare a national monitoring scheme to keep radiation doses to the minimum necessary.
Read the full article http://www.theage.com.au/national/radiation-too-high-in-ct-scans-says-study-20100407-rs6v.html |
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Changes to the Medicare items for radiation oncology treatment verification |
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Please see below is a letter from the Director of Radiation Oncology Section of the Department of Health and Ageing, Mr Abel MacDonald, regarding changes to the Medicare items for radiation oncology treatment verification from 1 May 2010.
Read the full article Changes to the Medicare items for radiation oncology treatment verification |
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The Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network |
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Cancer Australia established the Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network in 2009. The purpose of this initiative is to increase the capacity of regional centres to activate and recruit to trials conducted by the Multi-site Collaborative National Cancer Clinical Trials Groups, and thereby increasing access to high-quality trials to patients in regional Australia.
Applications are now open for new regional centres to join the Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network in 2010.
Together with the Victorian Cancer Agency, Cancer Australia is calling for applications from regional centres to join this initiative. Funding will be available to provide the person support required for the conduct of, and recruitment to, cancer clinical trials nominated by the Multi-site Collaborative National Cancer Clinical Trials Groups.
More information can be found at: http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-australia/research-and-clinical-trials/support-clinical-trials#6
Kind regards
Janelle
Dr. Janelle Nunan
Program Manager
Research and Clinical Trials
Cancer Australia
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Funding Support for Training |
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I am delighted to inform all members that the ACPSEM has been successful in attracting funding from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) for another three years for the Radiation Oncology Training Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP). Just in time for the end of the financial year we have signed the contract!
This is an exciting development with the acronym RO - STAMP (Radiation Oncology - Strengthening Australian Medical Physics).
The project has four components:
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Support of RO TEAP.
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2.
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Creation of an education unit within ACPSEM to support the Radiation Oncology workforce. This is the really cool one. We are funded for 2.25 positions from October onwards to provide educational support for medical physics registrars, supervisors ("train the trainer") and radiation oncology medical physicists (ROMPs) in the workforce(continuing professional development). The aim is to maintain a sustainable well-trained (and registered) workforce.
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3.
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Development of accreditation procedures for non-TEAP members of the workforce. While the "old" accreditation program is finally running out in 2010, there is a need to accredit colleagues who join our workforce from overseas.
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4.
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Activities to enhance the professional standing of medical physicists - eg through a national register that is accepted by governments as the prerequisite to work as an independent professional.
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There is a lot of additional background information that we will try to disseminate over the next couple of weeks. We have to develop a detailed project plan over the next 5 to 6 weeks and submit it to DoHA. I am hoping to have a session at the upcoming EPSM conference where we can discuss the implications of this contract for all ACPSEM members.
I would like to finish by thanking Steve Howlett and Carol James who have spent a lot of time putting together the proposal and staff of DoHA for their support and willingness to discuss the project with us over the last weeks.
Best wishes (and we are working on more STAMPs, STNZMPs, STBMs) Tomas
Tomas Kron
President ACPSEM |
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Radiation Oncology Accreditations |
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Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to inform members that the following candidate has been awarded with Accreditation in Radiotherapy Equipment Commissioning and Quality Assurance:
Mr Robert Chambers of the Medical Physics Dept, Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital NSW.
I am also delighted to announce that the following candidates have passed their final examination requirements for Accreditation in Radiation Oncology Medical Physics:
Ms Alison Chapman of the Dept Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Victoria, and
Mr Michael Currie of the Dept Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics, Wollongong Hospital, NSW.
Congratulations to Robert Chambers, Alison Chapman and Michael Currie on their successes.
Sean Geoghegan
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Sean Geoghegan, PhD Chair Professional Standards Board
Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine |
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