Application of Knowledge Management and Quality Assurance concepts in Radiation Oncology to validate methods reduce errors and dysfunctions.

This work describes a research project (titled: QUARATON QUAlity assurance in RAdiation ONcology: validation of methods and monitoring process to reduce errors and dysfunctions), partially founded by Italian Health Ministry, carried out involving the IFC-CNR Researcher Centre of Lecce and all together the nine Radiotherapy Units of Puglia and Basilicata Region (South of Italy). The project had two main defined purposes. The first object was to start a journey of Continuous Improvement of Quality for the cancer Radiotherapy Treatment, considering technical and clinical aspects. The second one was to build a structure able to apply the Learning Organization principles to take full advantage of knowledge creation through the collaboration of the nine Radiotherapy Center. This secondary aim was necessary in consideration that without a formalized Knowledge Management System the obtained results were not capitalized, also jeopardizing the Continuous Quality Program established for all the Radiotherapy Units.