We present a framework for collecting data which elucidates detailed clinical flow
timelines for different treatment sites, modalities, planners, and physicians in radiotherapy
treatments. A web based tool, the Whiteboard, was developed which allows communication
between the physicians and staff about the current state of the radiotherapy treatment
plan and provides detailed time data for each stage of the patient's journey from
simulation to treatment. Detailed timestamped data was collected over a period of
6 years which included 22 discrete steps of the treatment planning process. Whiteboard
data was combined with data in the treatment planning database Aria (Varian Medical
Systems, Palo Alto, CA) using the Eclipse Scripting API to include treatment plan
information. Over 6 years, 110,477 patient statuses were time-logged for 9683 courses
of treatment using our Whiteboard software, which allowed determination of patient
volumes per individual and the time to perform planning tasks. The mean planning volume
per dosimetrist was 375.8 ± 142.4 plans and 71.03 ± 27.10 plan revisions per year.
The mean planning volume per physician was 218.9 ± 110.8 plan approvals with 41.55
± 43.73 plan revisions per year. Physician contour time was a mean of 79.59 ± 84.61
hours, but varied greatly by diagnosis category and physician. The longest median
modality planning time of 119.6 hours was for the IMRT plans with 8 or more fields.
The shortest median times were 48.25, 49.53, and 50.98 hours for plans with 5, 4,
and 3 fields, respectively. We demonstrated a framework that could help facilities
in staff planning and aid in workload distribution, and could be used to improve understanding
of radiotherapy timelines for patients, payers, and other institutions involved in
radiotherapy processes.