ABR Approves PAAROT Program As Type II PQI

Main Category: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 19 Oct 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology is pleased to announce that its Performance Assessment for the Advancement of Radiation Oncology Treatment (PAAROT) program has been fully qualified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) as meeting the criteria for a Type II Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the ABR-Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Radiation oncologists are required to complete three PQI projects during a 10-year period to satisfy the Part IV requirements of the ABR-MOC program. At least one of the three PQI projects must be a Type II project, which PAAROT now qualifies as. These courses are only required for radiation oncologists with time-limited certificates that were first issued by the ABR in 1995. However, all practicing radiation oncologists are encouraged to participate in MOC.

In June, ASTRO announced five PAAROT beta site participants selected to test the program. The participants included the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando, Fla., Emory University in Atlanta, Duke University in Durham, N.C., and the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas in Gainesville, Va. Each cancer clinic selected to participate is currently entering a minimum of 10 patient charts each month by completing a baseline assessment survey for each through PAAROT and then providing feedback on their experience and ways to improve the program before the official launch.

When the program launches in winter 2008, participating physicians will be able to analyze their strengths and areas that need improvement, as well as receive feedback on where specific changes can be made - all online. A practice inventory will then be compiled from which participants will select a minimum of one area to improve upon, which will be the focus of their PQI project.

"ASTRO is committed to providing its members with the services that they, as medical professionals, need to provide their patients with the best possible care," said Laura I. Thevenot, ASTRO's Chief Executive Officer. "PAAROT will be an invaluable resource for physicians to analyze and improve their practice and the quality of care they give to patients receiving radiation therapy."

PAAROT will be available to all physicians beginning in late 2008 and will be free to ASTRO members for the first year.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with 9,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy.

http://www.astro.org

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