Steven E. Finkelstein, MD, FACRO, presented “Safely Managing a Radiation Oncology Clinic in the Age of COVID-19​​” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in April, 2020.

How to cite: Finkelstein, Steven E. “Safely Managing a Radiation Oncology Clinic in the Age of COVID-19” April, 2020. Accessed Mar 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/safely-managing-a-radiation-oncology-clinic-in-the-age-of-covid-19/

Safely Managing a Radiation Oncology Clinic in the Age of COVID-19 – Summary:

Steven E. Finkelstein, MD, FACRO, a radiation oncologist with Florida Cancer Affiliates in Panama City, Florida, provides guidance on how to safely manage a radiation oncology clinic during the COVID-19 crisis. He explains that it is important to screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms before treatments, and emphasizes that staff must be trained in how to safely work with potentially infected individuals. Noting that every practice will have to plan differently depending on its resources and the population it serves, Dr. Finkelstein also discusses how practices might minimize the number of patients seen, i.e. by deferring radiation treatments for prostate cancer in favor of increased duration of neoadjuvant ADT or active surveillance when appropriate. He observes that while alternatives to traditional radiation oncology like seed implantation could minimize clinic visits, many practices currently lack the resources to implement brachytherapy.

For other urology-focused information on the COVID-19 pandemic, visit our resource page.