Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy
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Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy

April 2012 marks the beginning of the Partnership’s second five-year mandate and the next phase of implementing Canada’s national cancer strategy. The priorities and initiatives for the next five years are outlined in our 2012-2017 strategic plan, Sustaining Action Toward a Shared Vision. Our website will soon be updated to reflect the activities supporting the strategic plan. The information below reflects the priorities and accomplishments of our work between 2007 and 2012. 

Guiding safe, high-quality delivery of radiotherapy

Initiated in July 2010, the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy (CPQR) is a collaboration between the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and representatives from the three disciplines delivering radiation therapy in Canada (radiation oncology, medical physics and radiation therapy). The CPQR has members from the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists, the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists. The CPQR group has made significant progress on the development and dissemination of two sets of guidance documents for the safe, high-quality delivery of radiation therapy and on increasing the ability to evaluate and reporton measures related to the quality of care.

Progress to date

  • In May 2011, a structural guidance document was developed and shared with organizations delivering radiotherapy in Canada and beyond. This document provides an important foundation for the development of tools that will provide information about quality to help the radiation community ensure the highest quality and safest treatment for Canadians.
  • A process is underway to systematically identify feasible, reliable and valid measures of quality in radiation therapy. It is expected to be complete by January 2012.
  • A plan to address issues with varying frameworks for reporting in radiotherapy is now underway. It focuses on the need for consistent definitions, terms, classifications and principles in Canadian therapy facilities. The plan will be ready to pilot in April 2012.
  • A tool for facilities to measure concordance with guidelines and standards is being refined. This tool helps assess, and identify concerns about, standards in the radiation therapy community. It will be tested in the summer of 2012.