We're thrilled to spotlight Alexander Diaz, a dedicated Radiation Oncologist at Murray-Calloway Country Hospital as our March 2024 User of the Month. This Regional Cancer Center has been a cornerstone of healthcare in Western Kentucky for nearly thirty years. In the last six months, Dr. Diaz has spearheaded a modernization of his department, including upgrading to a Varian TrueBeam and introducing new treatment techniques, billing codes, and advanced technologies such as automation. The team has also relocated to a new facility, expanded their staff, rolled out a new EMR system, adopted a cutting-edge treatment planning system, and updated their policies and procedures. "The scale of these changes is astounding, especially considering the timeframe," Dr. Diaz remarked, reflecting on the hospital's rapid evolution.
Dr. Diaz is particularly passionate about offering world-class services to his local community, emphasizing the healing power of receiving care close to loved ones. "I very much believe getting care in familiar surroundings, close to friends and family, is just as therapeutic as the treatment themselves."
Amidst these changes, Dr. Diaz emphasizes the vital role of Radformation's solutions in maximizing efficiency in their modestly sized department. He notes, "Despite our smaller staff size, Radformation’s solutions enable us to maximize efficiency. Automation simplifies our workflow, freeing up time for us to focus on tasks that demand greater attention; thus, allowing us to provide the highest level of care possible in a traditionally resource-limited setting like a rural hospital-based practice."
Pointing out the significance of automation in smaller settings where the leaner staff takes on broader responsibilities, Dr. Diaz explains, "Larger departments enjoy redundancy through the number of personnel. Automation is equally, if not more important, in a smaller department given that more is asked of the staff in terms of responsibilities. As the sole physician in the department, I am always cognizant of the demands I am constantly placing on my staff. We rely on Radformation software to work alongside us, as an additional member of our team."
Dr. Diaz commends Radformation's seamless integration across their entire clinical workflow. “This integration has been smooth, benefiting not only myself as the physician but also physics, dosimetry, and billing." Furthermore, he describes, “Beyond efficiency, one feature that particularly stands out is the deformed dose plan sum in ClearCheck. Superior to rigid registrations, AutoContour’s deformed sum provides a more accurate representation during treatment courses requiring adaptive planning, such as head and neck cases, given significant changes in anatomy.”
Regarding billing, Dr. Diaz acknowledges the advantages of QuickCode, even though he is not the daily end user, but sees the daily positive impact on his department. "I've observed QuickCode's effectiveness through interaction with those who use it daily. It has been instrumental in pinpointing gaps in our current activity capture process, especially as we broadened the scope of our services."
Dr. Diaz's experience at Murray-Calloway County Hospital showcases the impact of automation in a rapidly evolving department. His experiences provide inspiration for other smaller-scale Radiation Oncology departments as they navigate how to incorporate automation tools into their daily routines.
In addition to his daily duties as a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Diaz jokes that he continues to drive the administration crazy with never-ending requests for additional technology. Outside of the clinic, he spends what free time he has studying for the boards.
He also wanted to give a special acknowledgment to the members of his team, as every single person has played a vital role in getting to where they are today.
Dr. Diaz has kindly offered to answer questions. Email diaz2@murrayhospital.org