Curiosity to Confidence: Driving Efficiency with Automation in Buenos Aires

“ClearCheck gives the team confidence by providing independent verification and comprehensive plan evaluation. It ensures that every treatment meets clinical standards while simplifying communication between physicists and physicians.”

At CEMIC in Buenos Aires, Guido Maida is showing that big innovation can come from small teams. With just one linac and a passionate group of professionals, he’s using automation to revolutionize patient care, making treatments faster, smarter, and more collaborative than ever. By integrating Radformation’s automation tools with Eclipse, the team has streamlined contouring, planning, and QA workflows, achieving quicker turnaround times, consistent results, and seamless teamwork at every stage of treatment.

When Guido first began exploring automation in radiation oncology, curiosity was the driving force behind his journey. After watching a Radformation webinar in 2021, he became intrigued by the innovative potential of automation tools. At the time, his interest was purely exploratory and he was unsure how advanced automation had become or what solutions were available. That curiosity soon evolved into action. Today, Guido and his team have fully integrated Radformation’s automation tools into their daily workflows, transforming how they approach planning, contouring, and quality assurance. “Automation has significantly changed our workflow, speeding up processes while maintaining an excellent level of planning quality,” Guido explains. “With AutoContour, contouring has become much more consistent, making the physicians’ work easier, as they now only need to review and adjust if they wish.”

In 3D planning, particularly for field-in-field (FiF) breast treatments, automation with EZFluence has been a major advancement for Guido and his team. The process is now significantly faster while delivering highly optimized results for both coverage and dose distribution, allowing physicists to devote more attention to complex cases. “Using EZFluence, the team can now generate multiple treatment options in a fraction of the time and easily compare them to select the best plan,” Guido notes.

When asked if there is one Radformation product that stands out, Guido finds it difficult to choose, as each brings value at a different stage of the workflow. “It’s very hard to choose, since every product has a strong impact at a different stage of the process,” he admits. “If I had to choose, I would probably say ClearCheck, because it’s useful for both physicists and physicians.”

For Guido, shorter treatment schedules have translated into greater comfort and convenience for patients, demonstrating that automation enhances both the clinical and human sides of care. “ClearCheck gives the team confidence by providing independent verification and comprehensive plan evaluation. It ensures that every treatment meets clinical standards while simplifying communication between physicists and physicians.” Guido and his team have already integrated automation into several workflows, including CNS / brain, head and neck, breast 3DCRT, pelvis and SRS / SBRT, and they see more potential ahead. Several scripts and features have not yet been fully explored, leaving ample room for further optimization in the future.

Strong collaboration has been central to the success of Guido’s automation journey, and he credits Radformation’s customer-focused approach for making the experience both smooth and rewarding. He describes the partnership as consistently positive, with fast, accurate responses and friendly communication that fosters trust and efficiency. “Automating clinical processes is extremely important,” Guido adds, “but feeling supported throughout every step makes you feel confident and accompanied in what you do.”

Guido offers clear and practical advice for clinics beginning their automation journey. He emphasizes the importance of having one team member become thoroughly familiar with all the products in use and then training others according to their specific roles. “The tools are very intuitive, and Radformation provides excellent support.” Above all, Guido stresses the value of establishing clear internal workflow criteria and involving the entire team from the outset. The initial effort, he says, is small compared to the significant improvements in efficiency and quality that automation brings to daily clinical practice.

Outside the clinic

When Guido steps away from treatment planning, life in Buenos Aires brings a welcome change of pace. A passionate rider, he spends much of his free time with his horse, Charmander, and enjoys relaxing with family, friends, and his pets, Homero, Titi, and Lolo. He never misses a traditional asado or empanadas, and his favorite comfort meal is milanesas with pasta. When he takes a break, he heads to the beach, often to his favorite spot in Rio de Janeiro. Alongside his work in medical physics, Guido is completing his final year of medical school, driven by the same passion for patient care that defines his career.

For Guido, automation is more than a set of tools. It is a driver of quality, efficiency, and better patient care. By integrating Radformation’s solutions, his team has strengthened collaboration, improved consistency, and gained valuable time for what matters most. Whether mentoring colleagues, planning treatments, or riding Charmander after a busy day, Guido embodies the same commitment that drives Radformation’s mission: to make every step of the radiation therapy process smarter, faster, and better for patients.