:: Technology and Equipment

Radiotherapy equipment in use at the NCCI was evaluated and selected during the period December 2005 - March 2006 via a NSW Health Department tender for Linacs and associated equipment.

The equipment selected is identical at both Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie to promote an integrated practice.

Each site is currently equiped with an Elekta Synergy System Linear Accelerator with IMRT and kV cone beam CT capabilities, both Linacs
are supported by a central Impac Moasiq information system. Following a very busy commissioning period at the 2 centres the Coffs Harbour Linac became operational on the 29 May 2007 followed by the Linac at Port Macquarie which saw it's first patient on the 20 August 2007.

The Mosaiq information system currently provides a largely electronic work practice, essentially no paper is generated for any radiotherapy documentation. For those few paper documents that are generated we are in the process finding ways to create them electronically and go completely paperless.

Mosaiq is also being implemented as an Oncology electronic medical record for the Medical Oncology department in both centres and should be fully operational by mid 2008.

Each site has a Siemens Sensation Open 24 Slice Wide Bore CT Scanner for simulation with the CMS XiO and Focal Sim software providing virtual simulation and treatment planning. The planning system and Mosaiq are configured so that remote planning is available. The remote planning provides support across the two sites. either site can be provided with assistance from the other and planning and checking is reguarly completed in a co-operative fashion across the two sites.