Nottingham University Hospital is First U.K. User of Elekta's Electronic Medical Record Workspace for Image Guided Radiation Therapy

NOTTINGHAM, England, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- From single workstation, U.K. center coordinates advanced IGRT therapy for patients with cancer

Delivering Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) effectively and safely involves careful coordination of sophisticated systems, such as the therapy machine and its imaging subsystems, as well as the electronic medical record (EMR) used to schedule and record patient treatments. Clinicians at Nottingham University Hospital are piloting their new IGRT program with SYNERGISTIQ(TM), Elekta's workflow management system for Elekta Synergy(R) linear accelerators. Nottingham's Radiotherapy Services Manager, Russell Hart, reports that SYNERGISTIQ is streamlining IGRT by orchestrating MOSAIQ(R) EMR and Elekta Synergy activities from a single workstation.

"The cone beam CT capabilities provided by the two Synergy systems we acquired are new to this department," Hart says. "Given that, and looking at the high potential workflow for these systems - as many as 40 patients per day per system - we wanted the IGRT be as efficient as possible. We were impressed with how SYNERGISTIQ provided a very streamlined workflow for the radiographer, who operates the linac.

The fact that Nottingham already operated four Elekta Precise Treatment System(TM) linacs did not confer an advantage to the company during equipment evaluations, as National Health Service (NHS) guidelines for major procurements require that centers evaluate the solutions of all relevant providers, Hart notes.

"Only Elekta was able to offer that single workstation for the operator, which the others claimed to have but, in reality, did not," he says. "That meant that Elekta presented a total solution that included workflow and oncology information management, as well as the Elekta Synergy treatment systems and treatment planning with Monaco(R)."

MOSAIQ oncology information system went clinical at Nottingham in June 2010, followed by the Elekta Synergy systems with SYNERGISTIQ in October and November.

Implementing a streamlined IGRT workflow

"The systems' cone beam CT is currently undergoing commissioning for regular clinical use, but we have seen the impact of SYNERGISTIQ on IGRT workflow involving individual patients, and it's great," he says. "It's going to allow the operator to perform all IGRT functions at the SYNERGISTIQ workstation, rather than having to move to different workspaces, monitors and keyboards. That includes basic treatment readiness, imaging, image analysis interacting with MOSAIQ, interacting with the cone beam CT - all from one workstation."

According to Hart, another advantage, enabled by Auto DICOM push, is that all patient images will be available via the patient's electronic medical record - without having to go into the separate imaging database.

"This means you can distribute those images across your department via MOSAIQ, so doctors can access MOSAIQ and review images at a location outside of the radiation oncology department," Hart says. "SYNERGISTIQ unites patient records, scheduling, treatment coordination and images all in one tool. This will completely streamline the whole IGRT process."

To learn more about SYNERGISTIQ, visit http://www.elekta.com/SYNERGISTIQ.

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit http://www.elekta.com.