D3 IMRT Planning & Optimization Course
Course Number: D3-441

Course Overview Continuing Education Credits Course Objectives Course Syllabus Course Fees Upcoming Sessions Course Overview Top

The goal of the course is to educate clinic staff regarding safe and accurate planning, optimization, plan evaluation and delivery of IMRT plans.  The course is presented in 3 phases, and is a combination of self-paced learning, lecture and hands-on sessions utilizing multi-vendor planning platforms.  The intended audience for this session is dosimetrists and physicists, who are engaged in supporting IMRT at their centers. The course is led by D3’s senior physics and dosimetry team. These professionals have supported the development of IMRT programs including policies, procedures, and protocols at over eighty clinics from coast to coast.   Course materials and approaches have been enhanced through the experience gained in supporting the treatment of over 7,000 patients with IMRT.

Continuing Education Credits Top

The Medical Dosimetry Certification Board (MDCB) has approved this series for continuing education credits.

The Medical Dosimetry Certification Board designates this educational activity for a maximum of 23.0 credits. Each participant should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.  Earned credits are awarded at the end of the course semester.

MDCB Course #’s

Phase I –MDCB105347 through MDCB105351
Phase II – MDCB105352
Phase III – MDCB105353 through MDCB105358

Course Objectives Top

Effective planning, optimization and plan evaluation is a process requiring continual learning, practice and experience.  This course is designed to support staff in the learning process, by providing the opportunity to interact with experts and expand skill levels.  At course conclusion, through discussion, presentation of technical information and hands-on practice, participants will:

• Develop skills to effectively support the clinic’s IMRT program.
• Increase knowledge and understanding of safe and accurate planning, optimization, plan evaluation and delivery of IMRT plans.
• Increase awareness of challenges of plan development and treatment; enhance skills to identify and overcome these challenges.
• Understand current trends in IMRT planning and optimization.

Varian’s Eclipse and Philip’s Pinnacle platforms are used for hands-on practice and case study examples.

Course Syllabus Top

Course Prerequisites

• Vendor IMRT Training
• IMRT software on site

Phase I

Phase I consists of self-paced video tutorials, allowing participants to review course materials remotely.  A test is given for each topic; successful completion is required for matriculation to Phase II.  A WebEx session is held at the end of Phase I to review course materials.

• IMRT Patient Selection
• Immobilization & Localization for IMRT
• Imaging and Simulation for IMRT
• Contouring for IMRT

Phase II

Phase II offers a two day class, held at D3’s Pittsburgh, PA office for hands-on case studies covering planning & optimization techniques and plan evaluation.   General optimization parameters and advanced contouring tools are discussed.  Prostate, Breast and Head & Neck cases are studied, and considerations of the following topics are discussed:

• Setting Parameters
• Beam Arrangements
• Targets
• Creating Planning Structures
• Plan Evaluation Criteria
• Good vs. Bad Plan Examples

Phase III

Live, web-based grand rounds presentations are held, covering planning and optimization techniques and plan evaluation for other anatomical sites, including Brain, Pelvis and Gynecological.  WebEx technology is used for these remote sessions.

Course Fees Top

Course fees vary, based upon contractual relationship with D3.  Contact your D3 Account Manager or D3 Sales at 412-365-0711 for more information.

Upcoming Sessions Top

D3 sponsors two sessions of this course annually:

• Session 1 runs January through August
• Session 2 runs July through January

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