"..further mechanisation of a primarily hands on field"..? what does that mean

[ALTorGT]

residency guide.

http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/com/meded/education/residencyselection/radonc.htm

I didn't understand what this meant on practical day to day terms. How will this and other cons affect the everyday practice of newly graduated rad oncs.


2. The reliance upon technology will probably result in the further mechanization and technolization of what is currently a primarily clinical "hands on" field.


What are the pros of a career in your specialty?
1. Almost exclusively cancer related clinical and scientific work.
2. Most radiation oncologists in smaller practice settings do not specialize in a particular disease system, but work in all areas of the body with the full range of oncology specialists (Gyn-Onc, Med Onc, Nuerosurgery, etc).
3. Close relationship between clinical work and the technological and scientific advances and research in the field
4. Radiation oncology is a procedure-based practice, but depends upon face-to-face patient interaction.

What are the cons of a career in your specialty?
1. Radiation Oncology has become a highly technologized field highly dependent upon expensive capital equipment which makes keeping up with the latest advances difficult in some practice settings.
2. The reliance upon technology will probably result in the further mechanization and technolization of what is currently a primarily clinical "hands on" field.
3. Potential stigma associated with radiation.
4. Individual practices depend upon referrals from other specialists.

thanks.

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[G'ville Nole]

residency guide.

http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/com/meded/education/residencyselection/radonc.htm

I didn't understand what this meant on practical day to day terms. How will this and other cons affect the everyday practice of newly graduated rad oncs.


What are the cons of a career in your specialty?
1. Radiation Oncology has become a highly technologized field highly dependent upon expensive capital equipment which makes keeping up with the latest advances difficult in some practice settings.
2. The reliance upon technology will probably result in the further mechanization and technolization of what is currently a primarily clinical "hands on" field.


thanks.

1. Technologized? Technolization? Are those words? Did George W. Bush write this?

2. It may be that the "technolization" of the field refers to the fact that we now opt for computer based treatment planning as opposed to drawing on patients with a magic marker. Trust me, this is better for the patients, and IMO one of the reasons rad onc has increased in popularity.

 

[stephew]

i dont think its a big deal. think of it this way; firs tthere were just orthoginal sims/and beam arrangements. in the 80's 3D started and the techical role of docs was more in volved only to the extent that we arranged the beams more. If computers do more of this (imrt etc) then its really more of a cut back on dosim/beam placement. not the doc defining the fields or tolerance etc. you still have the same patient contact. I think that statement is just a lot of big words that mask a weak point.