Training activity information
Details
Undertake commissioning and/or upgrades of clinical software
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- End to end testing
- Quality management of software in development
- Guidance and legislation
- Scripting and validation
- Impact on outcomes, safety and experience of patients
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What is the purpose of the clinical software being commissioned or upgraded?
- What are the key steps involved in the process?
- What testing and validation procedures are required?
- What are the potential risks and how will they be mitigated?
- Have you discussed the specific software and process with relevant IT and clinical staff?
- What challenges might you encounter during commissioning or upgrades?
- How do you feel about undertaking technical tasks like software commissioning?
In action
- Are you following the established protocols and procedures for the software commissioning or upgrade?
- Are you encountering any technical issues or unexpected problems?
- Are you able to perform the necessary tests to verify the functionality and accuracy of the software?
- If you encounter software errors or compatibility issues, what troubleshooting steps are you taking?
- Are you seeking support from the software vendor or IT department?
- Are you documenting any deviations from the planned procedure and their resolution?
On action
- What specific clinical software was involved in the commissioning or upgrade? What were the key steps in the process? What testing and validation procedures were followed? Were there any challenges or issues encountered during the process? How was the software functionality and integration verified?
- What did you learn about your technical skills in working with radiotherapy software, your problem-solving abilities when encountering technical issues, and your understanding of the importance of software functionality and data integrity in clinical workflows? Do you need to develop further your IT skills or your understanding of specific software used in the department?
- How will this enhance your understanding of the software commissioning and upgrade process? How will this improve your ability to contribute to software-related projects and problem-solving? What further knowledge of specific software systems or quality assurance procedures would be valuable?
Beyond action
- Reflecting on the software commissioning or upgrade you undertook, what key lessons did you learn about the process and its importance for clinical practice?
- How has this experience enhanced your understanding of the interaction between clinical software and radiotherapy treatments?
- Have you been involved in other software upgrades or commissioning activities since this training activity? How did your initial experience inform your subsequent involvement?
- How has your experience with clinical software since contributed to your current role in ensuring the effective and safe use of technology in radiotherapy?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 6 |
Outcome
Plan for adoption and validation of new techniques and equipment in radiotherapy. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Assess the quality of practice and make recommendations for improvements. |