This was offered on a space and budget available basis. This information was shared with veterans via Internet and a proposal was sent to establish the Cincinnati VAMC as a national referral center for brachytherapy with I 125 as an appropriate treatment option in selected patients with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer involves an interdisciplinary approach. Specialists from medical oncology, radiation therapy, urology and administration developed a proposal to the VISN 10 Director which included staffing needs, workload capacity, patient selection, budget, equipment and a tracking system to identify outcomes. Veterans using the Internet were linked to this web page when investigating brachytherapy as a treatment for prostate cancer.
All care is given as an outpatient.
Costs have been reduced and satisfaction increased. The patient is provided with computerized information for lodging, scans, follow up and education regarding self-care and contact persons for further assistance. Follow up is provided via e-mail where facility or patient can access it. Veterans with prostate cancer can receive excellent, expeditious care utilizing an electronic computer system for information and procedure coordination. All services involved communicate easily and orders and management are processed with limited increase in workload for existing staff and provides quality continuity of care.