RT Documentation Standards 3

Question 1

During a course of treatment the physician decides to change the total dose. What documentation is required?

Accepted Answer

A revised prescription signed and dated by the radiation oncologist

Answer

Any change to the prescribed dose needs a new or amended prescription signed by the physician before delivery.

Question 2

Which data element must be updated in the daily treatment record after each fraction?

Accepted Answer

Cumulative dose delivered to the prescription point

Answer

Tracking the cumulative dose after every fraction prevents overdose and confirms the course is progressing as prescribed.

Question 3

A patient misses three scheduled treatments because of hospitalization. How should this be documented?

Accepted Answer

Record the interruption, the dates missed, and the reason in the treatment record

Answer

Treatment breaks can affect tumor control, so their dates and reasons must be recorded and the physician informed.

Question 4

Under the NRC, what generally makes a brachytherapy administration a reportable medical event?

Accepted Answer

The delivered dose differs from the prescribed dose by more than 20% (and exceeds the regulatory dose threshold)

Answer

10 CFR 35.3045 defines a medical event partly as a total dose differing from the prescription by 20% or more, above set dose thresholds.

Question 5

What is the main purpose of a record-and-verify (R&V) system in radiation therapy documentation?

Accepted Answer

Compare machine parameters to the approved plan and record each delivered treatment

Answer

R&V systems block delivery when settings fall outside tolerance of the plan and automatically log each treatment delivered.

RT - Radiation Therapist Certification Practice Test