Radiation medicine practice in the image-guided radiation therapy era: new roles and new opportunities.

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) technologies have had a major impact on many aspects of radiation therapy, from planning to verification and delivery. IGRT has also increased the education and training requirements of the health professionals who work in the field and must learn the new knowledge and skills associated with IGRT approaches. These new skills and knowledge can affect the organization of clinical practice, shifting responsibilities, which, in turn, alter the traditional team structure and dynamics. In particular, IGRT technologies and the new information they bring has markedly changed radiation therapists' professional roles. This phenomenon is explored in a review of practice change concepts and illustrated by an examination of 1 institution's experience during the broad implementation of IGRT.