Document Type
Brief Report
Abstract
Background: Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) can add to the workload of radiation oncology services, particularly in small centers with limited capacity and staff. After we launched an OA LDRT program in December 2024, referrals grew rapidly at our rural, single-linac radiation oncology practice at UT MD Anderson’s Cancer Network Partner site (Community Health Network in Indianapolis, IN), leading to long wait times and workflow strain.
Methods: We used load leveling to reserve capacity for cancer care and make OA scheduling predictable. Five 15-minute benign consult slots were set aside each week. Patients then went on a simulation wait list, and OA treatment was inserted when machine time was available. We treated 1 to 2 joints at a time and delayed treatment of additional joints. Other changes included expectation-setting scripts, selected after-hours treatment slots, and staffing adjustments.
Results: In 2025, the program received 261 OA referrals and simulated 190 patients involving 290 joints. Monthly OA treatment volume ranged from 115 to 150 fractions. Maintaining a backlog for consults and simulations provided a stable group of patients to fill all available treatment. We saw less idle linac time, less need for immobilization storage, and more predictable daily operations, along with better care-team morale.
Conclusions: In radiation oncology practices with limited resources, load leveling can spread benign-disease treatment over time, with patients waiting longer but available to fill openings in the schedule. These findings can serve other cancer centers aiming to operationalize benign disease treatment while preserving oncology capacity.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.26.2.2.a23
Grants and Funding
T32 CA196561-08/NCI NIH HHS
K08 CA30886/NCI NIH HHS
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Shaykevich A, Grippin A, Floyd W, Cripe B, Augustyn A, Shah S, Buszek S. Practical Implementation of an Osteoarthritis Treatment Program in a Radiation Oncology Center within MD Anderson’s Cancer Network. Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement. 2026; 2(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.26.2.2.a23.
