Oliver L, Fitchew R, Drew J
Radiation Oncology Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065.
Australas Phys Eng Sci Med. 2001 Mar;24(1):1-18. doi: 10.1007/BF03178281.
This Position Paper reviews the role, standards of practice, education, training and staffing requirements for radiation oncology physics. The role and standard of practice for an expert in radiation oncology physics, as defined by the ACPSEM, are consistent with the IAEA recommendations. International standards of safe practice recommend that this physics expert be authorised by a Regulatory Authority (in consultation with the professional organization). In order to accommodate the international and AHTAC recommendations or any requirements that may be set by a Regulatory Authority, the ACPSEM has defined the criteria for a physicist-in-training, a base level physicist, an advanced level physicist and an expert radiation oncology physicist. The ACPSEM shall compile separate registers for these different radiation oncology physicist categories. What constitutes a satisfactory means of establishing the number of physicists and support physics staff that is required in radiation oncology continues to be debated. The new ACPSEM workforce formula (Formula 2000) yields similar numbers to other international professional body recommendations. The ACPSEM recommends that Australian and New Zealand radiation oncology centres should aim to employ 223 and 46 radiation oncology physics staff respectively. At least 75% of this workforce should be physicists (168 in Australia and 35 in New Zealand). An additional 41 registrar physicist positions (34 in Australia and 7 in New Zealand) should be specifically created for training purposes. These registrar positions cater for the present physicist shortfall, the future expansion of radiation oncology and the expected attrition of radiation oncology physicists in the workforce. Registrar physicists shall undertake suitable tertiary education in medical physics with an organised in-house training program. The rapid advances in the theory and methodology of the new technologies for radiation oncology also require a stringent approach to maintaining a satisfactory standard of practice in radiation oncology physics. Appropriate on-going education of radiation oncology physicists as well as the educating of registrar physicists is essential. Institutional management and the ACPSEM must both play a key role in providing a means for satisfactory staff tuition on the safe and expert use of existing and new radiotherapy equipment.
本立场文件回顾了放射肿瘤物理学的作用、实践标准、教育、培训和人员配备要求。澳大利亚医学物理与工程学会（ACPSEM）所定义的放射肿瘤物理学专家的作用和实践标准与国际原子能机构（IAEA）的建议一致。国际安全实践标准建议，该物理学专家应由监管机构（与专业组织协商后）授权。为了符合国际和澳大利亚卫生技术咨询委员会（AHTAC）的建议或监管机构可能制定的任何要求，ACPSEM定义了实习物理学家、基础水平物理学家、高级水平物理学家和放射肿瘤物理学专家的标准。ACPSEM应为这些不同类别的放射肿瘤物理学家编制单独的登记册。在放射肿瘤学中，确定所需物理学家和辅助物理人员数量的令人满意的方法仍在讨论中。新的ACPSEM劳动力公式（公式2000）得出的数字与其他国际专业机构的建议相似。ACPSEM建议澳大利亚和新西兰的放射肿瘤中心应分别旨在雇用223名和46名放射肿瘤物理人员。该劳动力的至少75%应为物理学家（澳大利亚168名，新西兰35名）。应为培训目的专门设立另外41个注册物理学家职位（澳大利亚34个，新西兰7个）。这些注册职位可满足目前物理学家的短缺、放射肿瘤学未来的扩展以及劳动力中放射肿瘤物理学家的预期人员流失。注册物理学家应通过有组织的内部培训计划接受适当的医学物理高等教育。放射肿瘤学新技术的理论和方法的迅速发展也要求采取严格的方法来维持放射肿瘤物理学中令人满意的实践标准。对放射肿瘤物理学家进行适当的持续教育以及对注册物理学家进行教育至关重要。机构管理层和ACPSEM都必须在提供手段以确保工作人员安全并专业地使用现有和新的放射治疗设备方面发挥关键作用。
