Sheila K. Riggs Radiation Oncology Center

The most advanced radiation oncology therapies and technology. 

GBMC is one of just a few medical centers in the nation to offer sophisticated Smart Beam IMRT technology. IMRT uses precise radiation doses to "paint" tumors with pinpoint precision; avoiding harm to healthy surrounding tissue. 

Hyper fractionation for head and neck cancers combined with chemotherapy improves the likelihood of cancer control by delivering a higher total dose of radiation without increasing severe late normal tissue complications. 

Leaders in targeting cancer with pinpoint accuracy. 

In January 2010, GBMC became the first community hospital in the Baltimore area to deliver radiation therapy using the RapidArc linear accelerator. This technology, one of the most sophisticated linear accelerators ever developed, uses Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) to target the cancer site with pinpoint accuracy, sending radiation directly to the tumor, while protecting critical structures surrounding it. This breakthrough can also cut treatment time in half, dramatically decreasing patient discomfort. 

Advanced technology is providing critical precision to target Radiation Therapy. 

By adding the BrainLab module to our RapidArc linear accelerator, we can now use radiosurgery techniques to deliver very high doses of radiation in fewer treatments, specifically tailoring the dose of radiation to the shape of the tumor. Even small shifts in patient position or radiation beam alignment can result in damage to normal tissue surrounding the tumor. BrainLab minimizes that risk by using high resolution X-rays to pinpoint the tumor just seconds before treatment, automatically correct any errors, and track patient movement throughout the procedure. 

National clinical trials bring our patients the most promising new therapies. 

By participating in national clinical trials, GBMC gives our patients access to the most promising therapies and new cancer treatments as soon as possible. GBMC was the first community hospital in the area, and one of few institutions nationwide, to offer the sophisticated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) to oncology patients. 

 

Care that counts. 

Patient satisfaction survey results show that 97% of patients surveyed have had a good to excellent experience in our Center. By combining university-level treatment with the highly personalized care of a community hospital setting, our patients never feel like a number. 

Fast-track diagnosis, treatment, and teamwork. 

In fighting cancer, timing is everything. Our appointments are usually made within 48 of your call, and in medical emergencies, they can be scheduled the on the same day. Every single patient is treated with a multidisciplinary approach. This means a comprehensive team of experts will study your problem from every angle before making final recommendations. Our radiation oncology team consists of radiation oncologists, radiation oncology nurses, radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, medical physicists, medical assistants, receptionists, and volunteers. 

Who is part of our team and what do they do? 

The radiation oncologist is the patient's physician within our department. He or she is board certified by the American Board of Radiology to treat cancer with radiation. The radiation oncologist prescribes the dose of radiation, manages treatment and/or side effects, and follows the patient's post treatment. Radiation oncology nurses work closely with each radiation oncologist to educate patients about side effects and how to minimize them. 

Radiation therapists are health care professionals certified in radiation therapy by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology. Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatment by operating the linear accelerator, participating in the simulation process, and aiding in educating patients. Medical dosimetrists provide treatment plans that meet and adhere to radiation oncologists' prescriptions. Medical physicists provide clinical physics service and quality assurance.