ELEKTA AND MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER SIGN STRATEGIC MULTI-CENTER RADIATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AGREEMENT

The new Elekta Synergy systems will provide expanded capacity for advanced Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) which Mary Bird Perkins (MBP) began providing to patients four years ago. The new systems will provide for MBP’s current locations as well as the organization’s long-term regional growth into new markets. MBP has locations in Baton Rouge, Hammond and Covington and is building a fourth location in Gonzales, LA.

Each of the estimated nine new treatment systems will include 3D X-ray Volume Imaging (XVI) and some will include Elekta VMAT (Volumetric intensity Modulated Arc Therapy), enhancing MBP’s Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and IGRT arsenal.

“We feel that Elekta is ‘first class in its field’ and provides dynamic, practical and reliable treatment options,” said Todd D. Stevens, President and CEO, MBP. “Every cancer case is unique and personal, and Mary Bird Perkins makes sure that it has the best radiation therapy options available to our treatment team so every cancer patient has individualized, optimal treatment.”

The Center will be treating all types of cancer with the Elekta Synergy systems, from simple to the most complex cases. Elekta Synergy is a fully digital linear accelerator with an integrated 3D imaging system that simultaneously acquires and reconstructs image data on the target and surrounding critical structures as a whole volume in a single gantry sweep. Because imaging occurs at the time of treatment, uncertainties due to organ motion or deformation and slight differences in patient set-up can be eliminated.

In its search for the best solution for patient care, Mary Bird Perkins diligently analyzed all proposals and mobilized a team of expert physicians, medical physicists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists to thoroughly research and review all options. “Elekta won a very competitive award, and we chose them because they offered a better solution for our patients,” said Dr. Kenneth Hogstrom, chief of physics, MBP.

Joseph K. Jachinowski, President and CEO of Elekta North America stated: “We are extremely pleased to be able to supply our treatment delivery devices to Mary Bird Perkins. They have been a long time user of our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system and the combination of adding Elekta Synergy treatment systems with the EMR will further enhance the integration of the delivery of cancer care benefiting patients across Mary Bird Perkins’ network of facilities.”

VMAT with Elekta Synergy®
MBP makes it a priority to always be a pioneering user of new technologies that will improve patient outcomes. Elekta Synergy will enable the institution to implement Elekta VMAT* (Volumetric intensity Modulated Arc Therapy). This major advancement in radiation therapy surpasses traditional IMRT techniques by dramatically decreasing treatment times and providing highly conformal radiation dose distributions.

“In many cases, we feel Elekta VMAT will allow us to produce plans that are superior to those using conventional gantry-static IMRT deliveries,” says Dr. John Gibbons, chief of clinical physics, MBP. “We look forward to helping Elekta deploy the application of VMAT technology for the benefit of cancer patients in Louisiana.”

Elekta’s VMAT solution will vary the monitor units (MU) per degree and beam intensities “on the fly” by simultaneously manipulating gantry position and speed, MLC leaves, dose rate, collimator angle and back-up diaphragms, all while the treatment beam is on. Additionally, where IMRT plans consist of several fields, or control points, the VMAT technique effectively has an unlimited number of fields.

Elekta believes VMAT’s shorter treatment times translate into increased patient comfort by reducing time spent during treatment.

The Center also is using all available aspects of the MOSAIQ® image-enabled oncology electronic medical record (EMR) system. MOSAIQ supports and streamlines the entire cancer care workflow process, from initial diagnosis and staging through scheduling, planning, treatment, billing and subsequent follow-up.

*Elekta VMAT is pending FDA 510(k) premarket clearance and is not yet available for commercial delivery in the US.

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