Brachytherapy Overview | Why Brachytherapy? | Procedure Step by Step | Quality Assurance | ProQura
Pro-Qura
After starting a highly successful training program, we started a company in 1995 to support our trainees and other centers performing seed implantation. Pro-Qura is a company designed to provide support services for centers wishing to provide a high quality brachytherapy service.
Centers and physicians in the Pro-Qura program agree to have all (100%) of their post implant CT scans reviewed and dosimetry performed by Pro-Qura. Pro-Qura also performs the pre-implant planning for some centers. Pro-Qura provides a detailed evaluation of each plan similar to the quality assurance evaluation we previously performed at the Seattle Prostate Institute and now perform here at the Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle (PCCS). The Pro-Qura program has rather convincingly demonstrated that physicians can work cooperatively to ensure high quality care and improve techniques in brachytherapy.
Pro-Qura centers and physicians agree to a standard of performance set by PCCS and must meet that standard in order to remain in the Pro-Qura network. Pro-Qura is dedicated to improving quality of life for patients and creating a network of quality brachytherapy centers throughout the world that patients can rely on. Patients interested in Pro-Qura can find a center and physician and learn more about it at http://www.proqura.com.
Pro-Qura
- Provides meaningful, independent quality assurance
- Is dedicated to improving techniques and procedures for all centers
- Increases communication between brachytherapists and team members
- Seeks to build patient confidence in brachytherapy at all centers with a “Good Housekeeping Seal”
- Encourages and supports results similar to expert centers
- Promotes consistency of care
- Helps new centers start up an implement program
- Helps identify the “best����� centers for patients
- Brings quality centers and patients together
- Provides Treatment Planning
- Provides Proctoring
Process for Pro-Qura Affiliation
All plans are evaluated by Dr. Grimm personally. Results of initial 20 implants are reviewed by the PCCS/Pro-Qura board. If cases meet PCCS/Pro-Qura criteria – physician affiliation is achieved with PCCS and Pro-Qura. Centers agree to have all their subsequent post operative dosimetry performed by Pro-Qura and continue to meet performance criteria in order to maintain affiliation.
Proctoring
- On-site proctoring by PCCS physicians & other specialists, providing hands-on training
- Team members welcome to visit PCCS to observe implants/ultrasounds, etc.
- Instant feedback and evaluation