For those in a pure PP

[RO2019]

How many patients on average do you typically have on treat? Trying to get a gauge here of what’s the usual. Thanks

 

[OTN]

40 external beam patients on treatment right now, 2 SAVIs running, 2-3 SBRTs per day. Usually between 25 and 45 patients on treatment. I'm busier than most in our practice, however. I think most average around 25 patients a day on tx.

EDIT: I hypofractionate all breast and only have 2 postop prostate patients on treatment at the moment- urorads in town.

 

[RickyScott]

I would say 25 is a number we aim for, but I dont consider myself pp as I am employed by a community hospital.

 

[oldking]

I think 25 is the most common number these days. I used to have 35-40 regularly but that was pre-hypofractionation (it wasn’t that long ago that every breast and prostate was 30-35+ vs 15-20 fraction and even lung routinely went to 33-37 fractions ... sure SBRT reimbursement is more but not to make up for 35 fractions running on autopilot for the most part vs 5 fraction with direct MD supervision).

When you are evaluating jobs don’t forget to
clarify coverage - it’s one thing to jump from chief resident on academic service with only 6-8 consults per week and 20 patients under treatment to being on your own with 8-10 consults per week and 30 patients but you may be routinely covering your colleagues’s workload (hopefully not 15-20 consults in a week but most likely at least adding his 25-40 OTVs onto yours for the week).

 

[OTN]

I think 25 is the most common number these days. I used to have 35-40 regularly but that was pre-hypofractionation (it wasn’t that long ago that every breast and prostate was 30-35+ vs 15-20 fraction and even lung routinely went to 33-37 fractions ... sure SBRT reimbursement is more but not to make up for 35 fractions running on autopilot for the most part vs 5 fraction with direct MD supervision).

When you are evaluating jobs don’t forget to
clarify coverage - it’s one thing to jump from chief resident on academic service with only 6-8 consults per week and 20 patients under treatment to being on your own with 8-10 consults per week and 30 patients but you may be routinely covering your colleagues’s workload (hopefully not 15-20 consults in a week but most likely at least adding his 25-40 OTVs onto yours for the week).

Good point re: coverage. In our group if you have a partner in your clinic and they're out, you get the billing for all those OTVs.

 

[Gfunk6]

Also, it clearly makes a difference if you get a cut of the technical - either by owning the machines or having a contract with the hospital. In those scenarios you can make the equivalent with a lot less on treatment.

 

[oldking]

40 external beam patients on treatment right now, 2 SAVIs running, 2-3 SBRTs per day. Usually between 25 and 45 patients on treatment. I'm busier than most in our practice, however. I think most average around 25 patients a day on tx.

EDIT: I hypofractionate all breast and only have 2 postop prostate patients on treatment at the moment- urorads in town.

Just so new grad don't get freaked out from what I recall from other posts OTN is some type of superstar who doesn't mess around (I believe he or she attends/hosts/started 5-7 tumor boards a week and is in a very forward thinking, large practice). That being the case one has to live in a large metro area and/or have an airtight referral stream to have a minimum of 25 patients and up to 45 on treatment in general but especially without prostate and while hypofractionating breast. I would have to pass out cigarettes, anti-sunscreen, and find patients in every corner of a 50+ mile radius to maintain those kinds of numbers these days.

I can't be the only one to wonder OTN: how many consults do you do in a week on average? How the heck do you maintain that number of patients on treatment in general but especially with hypofractionated breast let alone no prostate? Truly impressive!