Approved for 1 Category A CE credit
Cheryl Turner, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(T)
According to the 2016 TG100 report by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), many errors that occur in radiation oncology are not due to failure in devices and software, but are failures in workflow and process. Current national and international research indicates that workplace conditions such as busyness, understaffing, incivility, and disengagement may contribute to these failures. Failures in radiography and in radiation therapy may have catastrophic results including near misses and patient errors. The research contends that overworking and underpreparing staff leads to distraction, depersonalization, and apathy. While not often directed towards patients, these signs of workplace stress and burnout have the potential to create unsafe situations in radiological sciences practices. Radiological sciences professionals, including radiation therapists, cite lack of training and professional development, overwork, and disrespect or distrust as the most significant factors leading to the possibility of a patient mistake. This presentation will detail the findings in the TG100 report, review current research literature, and provide practical examples in which the workplace environment proves to be a significant factor in patient and professional safety.
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