• Financial Planning: Proton therapy requires significant upfront investment, but financial sustainability depends on assessments of patient volume, establishing sustainable reimbursement and securing institutional or community partnerships.
• Workflow Integration: Many centers find success when proton therapy is seamlessly integrated into the broader oncology care continuum, ensuring efficient patient referrals and coordination with other treatment modalities.

Hospitals and practices considering proton therapy can benefit from speaking with experienced providers in the field, many of whom will be at our NAPT Annual Meeting, where they can share best practices and lessons learned.


HCB News: What excites you most about the future of proton therapy, and where do you see the field heading in the next five to ten years?
JM: The future of proton therapy is incredibly promising. The field is growing, making treatment more accessible to patients across the country. Currently about 70% of NCCN designated centers are treating with or are planning to treat patients with proton therapy. As new regional centers open and existing centers continue to refine their expertise, more people will have access to this highly precise treatment.

Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and adaptive treatment planning is poised to revolutionize cancer care. AI-driven advancements will enable even greater precision in radiation delivery, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and enhancing patient outcomes. FLASH therapy, which delivers radiation in ultra-high doses within fractions of a second, holds the potential to dramatically reduce treatment times and further spare surrounding healthy tissue.

Overall, the combination of increased access, ongoing research, and emerging technologies will ensure that proton therapy continues to play a pivotal role in the future of oncology care.


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