Credentialing of stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy programs for quality and safety: the Novalis Certified Program
Timothy D. Solberg, Nzhde Agazaryan, Mark De Ridder, Isabelle Germano, Naren Ramakrishna, James Robar, Ronald Warnick, Reinhard Wurm and Antonia Wurmseher
The expectation of quality and safety is a fundamental tenet in all areas of healthcare, and a cornerstone of best practice is a process of continuous learning and continuous improvement. Independent audits and peer review of radiotherapy programs are an important mechanism for identifying process or technology gaps, for highlighting areas for improvement, and for incorporating within continuous improvement processes. In the field of radiotherapy, independent certification programs exist within various national and/or professional spheres, yet few focus specifically on specialty procedures such as radiosurgery or brachytherapy, despite several recommendations for such programs. In this manuscript we describe a specialized SRS/SBRT credentialing program founded on national/international standards and guidelines. We also present the results of an anonymous survey from institutions who have completed the program.
Keywords: Stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, quality and safety, independent audit, credentialing