September 2020: Updated Reaccreditation Guide
As of September 25, 2020, an updated version of the APEx Reaccreditation Guide has been released for facilities in the program to use.
Affecting:
All facilities seeking reaccreditation.
September 2020: Updated Self-Assessment Guide
As of September 25, 2020, an updated version of the APEx Self-Assessment Guide has been released for facilities in the program to use.
Affecting:
All facilities within the initial accreditation cycle.
August 2020: Addition of Evidence Indicator 2.4
As of September 25, 2020, Evidence Indicator 2.3 treatment prescription and treatment plan will no longer include evaluation of the treatment plan, but will evaluate the prescription. Treatment plan evaluation will be separated out into Evidence Indicator 2.4. The separation into 2.3 for the prescription and 2.4 for the treatment plan allows for more detailed evaluation of both criteria.
Affecting:
All facilities.
June 2020: Addition of Evidence Indicator 1.6.1
As of July 7, 2020, Evidence Indicator 1.6.1 on transferring of previous radiation therapy was added promote the creation of a standard process for transfer of care documents to a new provider and in emergency situations (i.e., patient treated at another ROP in the same area or clinical continuity of care transfer when treatment can no longer be given at the current ROP).
Affecting:
All facilities.
December 2019: Updated APEx Procedures
In December 2019, an updated version of the Accreditation Procedures was released. The changes made by the Accreditation Procedures became effective in January 2020.
Affecting:
All facilities.
October 2019: Release of Reaccreditation Guide
In October 2019, ASTRO released the Reaccreditation Guide for practices seeking reaccreditation through the APEx program.
Affecting:
All facilities seeking reaccreditation.
April 2019: Updated APEx Procedures
In April 2019, an updated version of the Accreditation Procedures was released. The changes made by the Accreditation Procedures became effective in May 2019.
Affecting:
All facilities.
March 2019: Updated Self-Assessment Guide
As of March 2019, an updated version of the Self-Assessment Guide has been released for facilities in the program to use.
Affecting:
All facilities.
June 2018: Accreditation Determination
As of July 30, 2018 Radiation Oncology Practices (ROPs) that participate in APEx as part of a multi-facility application will have their determination assessed as a single practice. This will result in one accreditation determination that will apply to the facilities in the group.
Affecting:
Multi-facility applicants.
June 2018: Program scoring
As of June 1, 2018, the following evidence indicators will be updated to Level 1 requirements. These include:
- 2.1.1 Simulation directive
- 2.2.1 Treatment planning directive
- 6.1.2 Safe staffing plan
- 7.3.1 Patient safety event reporting
Please see the APEx standards for details on the requirements for these evidence indicators.
Affecting:
All facilities.
January 2017: Survey team
All ROP survey teams will have a radiation oncologist and medical physicist as part of the survey team. For larger facilities or networks an additional physicist, radiation therapist or medical dosimetrist may be added to the team.
Affecting:
All facilities.