Herman, Michael

The Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID) provides localization quality images and computer‐aided analysis, which should in principal, replace portal film imaging. Modern EPIDs deliver superior image quality and an array of analysis tools that improve clinical decision making. It has been demonstrated that the EPID can be a powerful tool in the reduction of treatment setup errors and the quality assurance and verification of complex treatments. However, in many radiation therapy clinics EPID technology is not in routine clinical use. This low utilization suggests that the capability and potential of the technology alone do not guarantee its full adoption. This paper addresses basic considerations required to facilitate clinical implementation of the EPID technology and gives specific examples of successful implementations. © 2000 American College of Medical Physics.PACS number(s): 87.53.–j, 87.57.–s

The changes in health care reimbursement have the potential to affect the availability of quality medical physicist service in patient care. A survey was conducted by the AAPM Professional Council and the ACMP to collect cost information for special medical physics consultation, CPT4‐77370 and continuing medical physics, CPT4‐77336. The data collected from the survey was compared to current reimbursement schemes for a number of special procedures. Under varying reimbursement schemes, the costs of the medical physics services provided cannot be recaptured by the institution. It remains important for medical physicists to assess our utilization of resources and allocation to each of the services we provide and to understand the implications of policy changes at the federal and local levels. PACS number(s): 87.90.+y, 87.53.–j