Pinlon Cancer Centre in Yangon, Myanmar
Pinlon Cancer Centre (PCC) is one of AARO’s success stories in our clinical development department. PCC is part of Pinlon Hospital, a 250-bed private tertiary care hospital that has been serving the residents of Yangon since 2007. The hospital offers primary medical care; 24-hour emergency care; and a vast range of specialties that include oncology, advanced cardiac surgery, hepatology and gatroentrology.
When PCC first approached AARO to improve their department competencies, they were an oncology department capable of providing only 2D to basic 3D radiotherapy treatments. They did not have in place a systematic clinical workflow and process for the smooth running of clinical operations. AARO was tasked to provide clinical consultancy services for their Oncology department through regular on-site visits and off-site remote support.
Over a period of 2 years, monthly visits were made by a team comprising a radiation oncologist and radiation therapist to audit and improve their clinical competencies and work processes. Each visit was carefully planned with pre-defined cancer sites identified for discussion beforehand ie head and neck, lung, central nervous system, gynaecology. Over an intensive 2 day session, both visiting experts would spearhead discussions with their relevant departments covering both the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical care. Whilst doctors and physicists held journal club discussions (of latest scientific papers), tumor board meetings discussing the challenging cases faced by the clinical staff, and radiotherapy planning audits of cases that were planned in the last month, the radiation therapists and dosimetrists discussed work processes for safe delivery of radiotherapy and patient care, and systemically covered the technical aspects of radiotherapy simulation and delivery for the stipulated cancer site.
After each visit, an internal after-action-review (AAR) was performed and a detailed report was furnished to the PCC management and clinical team. Each report comprised a summary of all activities performed during that visit and recommendations for improvement and audit during the next team visit. Clinical and treatment guidelines and protocols were then furnished to the department for implementation.
During the course of the project, the AARO team oversaw the implementation of multiple programmes including a case-note system for organized clinical entry and filing/retrieval, transition from 3D to IMRT planning for head and neck radiotherapy, mouth bite system using customized wax bolus, and infection control protocol for patients with communicable diseases undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Ad-hoc tutorials at the request of the PCC head of department were also given to the residents of the department who were attempting their specialist examinations in the UK, not to mention a hearty dinner at the end of each visit where lasting friendships were forged.
At the end of this project, PCC was left in a good position to deliver safe and quality clinical oncology and radiotherapy treatments for all disease sites, as well as IMRT treatment for their head and neck patients. Their clinical processes and workflow were also established and served to improve their throughput in patient numbers, thus reducing waiting times and increasing the centre’s capacity for treatment.
Click here for a testimonial written by the team from Pinlon Cancer Centre
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