Order From Chaos: The Benefits of Standardized Nomenclature in Radiation Oncology.

Although standardization has been shown to improve patient safety and improve the efficiency of workflows, implementation of standards can take considerable effort and requires the engagement of all clinical stakeholders. Engaging team members includes increasing awareness of the proposed benefit of the standard, a clear implementation plan, monitoring for improvements, and open communication to support successful implementation. The benefits of standardization often focus on large institutions to improve research endeavors, yet all clinics can benefit from standardization to increase quality and implement more efficient or automated workflow. The benefits of nomenclature standardization for all team members and institution sizes, including success stories, are discussed with practical implementation guides to facilitate the adoption of standardized nomenclature in radiation oncology.
Competing Interests: Disclosures Susan L. Richardson is Deputy Editor for the Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics. Walter R. Bosch reports grant from National Cancer Institute (NCI) (U24 CA 189893); Charles S. Mayo if Chair of American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) SC-263 and the Big Data Subcommittee. Todd R. McNutt is Chairman of the board of Oncospace and holds founder shares of Common Stock. Jean M. Moran reports software licensed to Fuse Oncology and grants or contracts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NCI, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Richard A. Popple reports honoraria and research support from Varian Medical Systems and also receives royalties for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Research Foundation. Ying Xiao reports no conflicts. Elizabeth L. Covington is the Chair of AAPM Task Group TG-263U1.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)