Software Solution Allows Enhanced Oncology Patient Management

A comprehensive chemotherapy software solution enables patients to become more involved in managing their own care.

The Aria Medical Oncology system is an all-inclusive information and image management system that aggregates patient data into a single, organized, oncology-specific medical chart, helping clinicians effectively manage treatment for patients undergoing medical or radiation therapies. Automated cancer staging, pharmacy preparation and dispensing, and full clinical trials back-office support simplify oncology processes. A rule-based decision engine includes automated safeguards that check for potential contraindications and dose limits, and recommends dose delays for chemotherapy (if advisable), based on accepted treatment guidelines.

The system supports digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM), which facilitates the transfer of digital medical images, radiation therapy treatment plans, and patient history data between systems. Aria supports conventional computerized tomography (CT), cone-beam CT, Positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images for precise and consistent patient setup. An interface engine uses industry-standard HL7 communication protocols to exchange patient records with other hospital and clinical information systems. By delivering data and information from pharmacy, laboratory, pathology, radiology, and hospital information systems, the Aria system helps the caretaker staff make informed patient treatment decisions. The Aria for Medical Oncology system is a product of Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA)

"The system's toxicity evaluation sheet records the side effects a patient has when taking chemotherapy and we can record how well they are and how much they weigh each time they come in for a consultation,” said Claire Blessing, M.D., consultant clinical oncologist at Churchill Hospital (Oxford, United Kingdom), who is coordinating the implementation of the system in the UK's Thames Valley Cancer Network. "This is all on the same patient record as you use to prescribe chemotherapy. So, when a patient is with me, I have it displayed on the screen in front of me and the patient can also see it. We also give the patient a record book to take home and they become much more involved in managing their treatment.”

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Varian Medical Systems
Churchill Hospital