March 2021
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Generations Radiotherapy Begins Installation of Birmingham's
Only Elekta Infinity HD Linear Accelerator ALABASTER – Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology Has officially begun installation of a new linear accelerator, which will be used to treat radiotherapy patients in Alabaster, Alabama. The accelerator uses photons or electrons accelerated up to 15 million volts for painless delivery of radiotherapy to patients with cancer. The accelerator was built by Elekta AB, one of the world's foremost manufacturer's of radiotherapy equipment in its factory in Crawley, England, just outside of London. This remarkably precise equipment was built to order for Dr. Christopher Jahraus, the radiation oncologist and owner of Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology PC. When asked why he chose this particular system, Jahraus explained that in order for radiotherapy to be delivered with optimal patient comfort and accuracy, it is critical that treatment be delivered with especially capable hardware. The Elekta Infinity HD linear accelerator has the industry's fastest multi-leaf collimator (MLC), which modulates, or adjusts and focuses the beam of radiation to hit cancers while sparing critical normal tissues to the greatest degree possible. Dr. Jahraus went on to explain that the Elekta Agility MLC is approximately twice as fast at modulating radiation beams as any other system in use in the Birmingham metropolitan area today. He further explained that speed of modulation makes for more precise and effective radiotherapy treatment design. The new equipment will be put into service for clinical care in April 2021. Dr. Jahraus shared his enthusiasm at the prospect of bringing such forefront technology to the hometown environment and personal care embodied in the team of the Shelby Cancer Care Center. |
November 2020
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Generations Radiotherapy Finalizes Plans to Install New Equipment for Precision Cancer Treatment
ALABASTER – Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology, PC, owner of the Shelby Cancer Care Center, announced today that it has finalized arrangements for the installation of a new linear accelerator, the centerpiece of radiotherapy treatment delivery. Swedish company Elekta AB was selected as the supplier of the new Infinity accelerator, which will be built in Elekta's factory in Crawley, England beginning a few weeks from now. This new equipment will bring numerous advances to the Shelby Cancer Care Center, including the ability to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to certain types of primary and metastatic bran malignancies. This is made possible by the Infinity's high-precision delivery system, which includes a 160-leaf multi-leaf collimator which moves at speeds faster than any other such device available today. The new equipment will come with a host of other enhanced capabilities, including improved respiratory gating for tumors that move when a patient breathes, clearer on-board imaging capabilities, and faster overall treatment delivery. When asked to comment, Dr. Christopher Jahraus, the center's owner and radiation oncologist stated, "We chose to go with this remarkable Elekta linear accelerator, because it complements our outstanding array of treatment planning and management systems, which are also developed by Elekta. This will be the only Elekta linear accelerator in the Birmingham metro, and as such, it is evidence of our commitment to ensuring that our patients have the best care available anywhere. This device is part of a series of upgrades our center has been implementing, and will round-out our suite of radiotherapy options." Generations Radiotherapy anticipates the new device will be in service by early March 2021, after it is put through rigorous testing, calibration, and quality assurance processes. |
January 2020
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Generations Radiotherapy Announces Order for New Equipment and Enhanced Treatment Options
ALABASTER – Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology, PC, owner of the Shelby Cancer Care Center, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Elekta, Inc. for the purchase of a new linear accelerator, which will be used to treat patients with radiotherapy. The new equipment, known as an Elekta Infinity linear accelerator, is expected to improve both the speed and accuracy with which treatment can be delivered, and will bring new options for treatment, such as intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of tumors located within the brain, while minimizing radiation dose to healthy tissue. When asked to comment, Christopher Jahraus, MD, the center’s radiation oncologist said, “The new Elekta Infinity LinAc will help us continue to offer our patients the cutting-edge treatments they’ve come to expect, while offering enhanced patient comfort with faster treatment times, and numerous means by which we will improve our accuracy and overall treatment quality.” When asked for his comments, Nick Callea, Healthcare Account Director with Elekta, Inc., stated, “Elekta is delighted to continue its longstanding relationship with Generations Radiotherapy. We look forward to installing and supporting the Infinity accelerator, with options that will truly advance the quality of care in this area.” Earlier this year, Generations Radiotherapy was one of the first four centers in the country to implement Elekta SmartClinic, a software system that helps oncologists provide more seamless, efficient care while giving them the ability to access data in a secure mobile environment as well. Dr. Jahraus and the Generations Radiotherapy staff are responsible for numerous improvements to the system as they worked collaboratively with Elekta to better tailor the SmartClinic system to community oncology practice needs. The linear accelerator order comes on the heels of another recently-placed order with Philips Healthcare to provide new imaging equipment to the center. Beginning March 3, 2020, Generations Radiotherapy will be using a Philips Big Bore Oncology CT scanner for designing and targeting cancer patients’ radiation treatment plans. The new scanner is larger than the prior unit, and will offer better options for patient positioning and comfort during radiation treatment, while simultaneously rendering improved image quality. Patients with implanted metal structures such as dental fillings and hip replacements, which may cause inaccuracies in imaging performed on other scanners, will have notably improved image quality on the Philips scanner. Richard Joyce, regional manager for CT products with Philips Healthcare suggested that the new scanner is characterized by “accuracy, superb imaging performance, and quantitative integrity.” He went on to note that the Generations Radiotherapy unit was “designed and enriched to meet the specific treatment planning and imaging needs of radiation oncology” like those of the center in Alabaster. News of the new equipment and services has other oncologists at Shelby Baptist pleased as well. Daniel Allendorf, MD, PhD, an oncologist with Alabama Oncology who practices at the Shelby Cancer Care Center was enthusiastic in offering his support for the upgrades. He explained,“These advances will further our common mission of providing first-rate care to all of the patients of our region.” Although the new imaging equipment will be functional this spring, the linear accelerator requires a custom build in the Elekta factory in Crawley, England, and will require modifications to the cancer center building in order to accommodate it. Generations Radiotherapy anticipates the new treatment device will be operational within the next year. |
March 2019
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Generations Radiotherapy Physician Elevated to Fellow Status by the American College of Radiation Oncology
Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology PC is pleased to announce that radiation oncologist, Dr. Christopher Jahraus, MD has been awarded fellowship status in the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) at its 2019 annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Jahraus has been a member of this leading organization of professionals involved in radiation therapy for over a decade, and has participated in the college in various capacities. The college recognizes members who have meritoriously served ACRO and the field of radiation oncology through education, research, and other service activities. The designation of fellowship by an organization representing a physician's specialty is an honor which can typically only be awarded after the physician has completed all specialty training, obtained board certification, and contributed years of service to the discipline. As with all fellows of ACRO, Dr. Jahraus has a new official title, namely Christopher D. Jahraus, M.D., F.A.C.R.O., with the final title meaning "Fellow of the American College of Radiation Oncology." Dr. Jahraus is one of fewer than 250 U.S. radiation oncologists who currently hold this distinction. He was one of ten fellows elevated to this status at the 2019 meeting along with physicians from a host of prestigious institutions, both academic and private. |