Technology is in a continuous state of improvement.
As soon as a new cell phone hits the market, for example, consumers will line up to get their hands on the industry’s newest, shiniest device. And who can blame them? Consumers want the best.
The same principle holds true in cancer care. Manufacturers are continuously researching and experimenting to develop new equipment that is more effective, more powerful and more precise than their predecessors. So who can blame patients for choosing doctors whose practices features the latest, most innovative technology?
Since its inception, Advocate Radiation Oncology has prioritized technology to ensure patients have access to the most sophisticated, advanced technology on the market. As a result, local physicians continue referring patients to Advocate, knowing they will receive personalized care and treatments using top-of-the-line equipment.
In radiation oncology, precision is critically important. Precision can destroy tumors without damaging surrounding tissue. The newest technology can focus beams in increments of less than a millimeter, a level of precision that helps reduce treatment times and lessons the side effects of radiation. That’s why patients, and radiation oncologists, want the latest, greatest cancer-fighting equipment.
Advocate treats patients diagnosed with all types of cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, brain, neck and others. The practice has made substantial capital investments in equipment, including these three state-of-the-art Varian machines:
Technology: Halcyon
Using image-guided radiotherapy, the Halcyon’s intelligent automation provides for faster treatment times. Its quiet, smooth motions and soft, ambient lighting keep patients relaxed and comfortable during their treatments.
Technology: TrueBeam
The Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, or IMRT, linear accelerator targets and destroys tumor cells in the body using external-beam radiation.
Technology: Identify
A comprehensive administrative technology system, Identify uses patient biometrics at every stage of the treatment process to ensure safe and accurate care. Identify is integrated across all machinery and devices within the practice, streamlining communication between the radiation therapists, machines and patients.
Offering the most innovative and powerful technology on the market is a difference-maker for patients, but only half of the equation. The other half is expertise from Advocate’s experienced, compassionate physicians who partner with patients on every step of their cancer treatment journey. With a patient-first approach, physicians create an individualized treatment plan unique to each patient. The ultimate goal is to quickly and efficiently deliver radiation treatments that allow patients to continue living their lives with minimal disruption.
A cancer diagnosis will always initiate very serious discussions, but the prognosis isn’t nearly as worrisome as it was even a decade ago. Technology has changed the conversation. In fact, doctors once discussed cancer’s death rate; they now reference its survival rate. If diagnosed and treated early, a majority of cancers are survivable.
Note: This article was originally published in the July 2021 issue of SWFL Health & Wellness. The monthly magazine provides information that promotes living a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.
READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Technology, precision bring hope to cancer patients
About the Author
Dr. Arie Dosoretz is proud to provide top-tier patient care and significant management expertise to Advocate Radiation Oncology. He considers it critical for experts in the community to continuously stay up to date with developments in the oncology world so patients have access to the best care. He enjoys using his Spanish fluency to communicate with and fulfill the needs of the Hispanic community.
Dr. Dosoretz earned a joint MD/MBA degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Wharton School of Business. He completed his residency at Yale University’s New Haven Hospital, Department of Therapeutic Radiology in New Haven, CT. He returned to his hometown of Fort Myers in 2015 where he has practiced as a physician and worked in clinical administration, directing physician recruitment and overseeing clinical operations and quality.
He is a widely published researcher in nationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, and is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He maintains a close relationship with many academic researchers including the Yale COPPER center.
Away from the medical practice, he spends time with his wife, Jane and three children, Evan, Lydia, and Naomi. He is an avid runner, and enjoys the outdoors and fly-fishing trips.
Additional Information
To learn more about Advocate Radiation Oncology, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. There, you can learn about treatment options, referrals, insurance coverage, billing and more.
Dr. Todd Pezzi first became interested in oncology at a young age after seeing cancer impact his own family. He is passionate about delivering state-of-the-art oncologic care to the residents of Southwest Florida.
Thomas J. Klein, M.D., Ph.D., FACRO is a board-certified radiation oncologist who provides world class cancer treatment in a caring community setting. He values the personal relationships he forms with each of his patients and is committed to helping them in their fight against cancer. Dr. Klein is an advocate for his patients both in and out of the clinic. He has raised awareness on news broadcasts, lobbied for cancer patients’ rights on Capitol Hill, and educated physicians around the country on making better treatment decisions for their patients.
