MERP is designed for identification of patient treatment errors associated with the following treatment delivery methods: conventional EBRT, 3D-CRT, IMRT, IGRT, SRS, and SBRT. Depending upon the situation, QA and radiation safety errors can be captured as either patient related or non-patient related errors.
MERP uses a categorization system that is preconfigured for classifying errors in the overall radiation oncology process. Performance measurement is divided into three main areas: clinical, QA, and radiation safety. Each patient related error is identified as occurring before or after treatment delivery commences. The main areas are further broken down into categories, subcategories, and attributes. These silos are comprised of deep, multiple levels of categories for capturing extensive and highly granular data. MERP’s categorization system looks like this:
- Registration
- Scheduling
- Billing
- Diagnostic CT
- CT Simulation
- Computer Treatment Planning
- Dose Calculations
- Electron Cutouts
- Beam Modifiers
- R & V
- Patient Docs/Notes
- Patient Identification
- Imaging
- In-Room Treatment Setup
- Treatment Delivery
- QA
- Radiation Safety
MERP provides the user with a number of powerful features for entering, evaluating, correcting, trending, and reporting errors. With the added ability to customize key program functions such as risk scoring, trigger levels, and attributes, the user can create an error reduction program specific to an institution’s operations. MERP comes already configured with the following program features:
- Monitor Clinical, QA, and Radiation Safety Processes
- Identify Preset Errors or Create New Error Types
- Capture “Near Misses” and Opportunities for Improvement
- Display Instant Reports and Graphics
- Reference Standards/Regulations (JC, ACR, ACRO, ASTRO, State, IAEA, etc.)
- Evaluate Dose Using Patient Dose Error Calculation Wizard
- Automatically Launch Sentinel and Medical Event Reports
- Perform Step-By-Step Root Cause Analysis
- Create Action Plan Road Map
- Assign Responsibility for Corrections
- Designate Levels of Review
- Route Action Plans for Approval
- Get In-Box Alerts of Errors
- Set Color Codes for Timeliness of Error Review/Approval
- Generate Benchmark Procedures for Tutorial*
- Compare Error Types Using Date Ranges
- Calculate Error Rates
- Broadcast Alerts
- Utilize as Audit Tool (Regulatory and Accreditation Reviews)
- Designate Significance (Dose Trigger Levels, Regulatory Requirements)
- Assign Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs)
*The user can create their own library of policies, procedures, and forms and store their documents in MERP. This methodology creates a complete closed-loop system where errors and their long-term corrective action plans are tied to procedures as part of process improvement.
Remote applications training in MERP is performed with staff and physicians. This initial training is included in the purchase price. Onsite applications training is available and can be purchased separately. Travel-related expenses specific to locations outside the continental U.S. are not included in the onsite applications training. Therapists receive 6.0 hours of ASRT Category A continuing education credits in the U.S. for onsite applications training. Additional remote or on-site training can be purchased separately.
