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The American Society for Radiation Oncology ( ASTRO ) has received a 2010 Web Health Award for its patient-geared website. The Web Health Awards is a national competition that recognizes high-quality electronic health information. Over 500 entries were submitted for the 2010 competition from a variety of health care professionals nationwide. The winners were selected by a panel of national electronic health information experts.

This year, ASTRO received a bronze award for RT Answers, a site designed specifically for cancer patients and their families, friends and caregivers. RT Answers began in 2004 as a way to explain to cancer patients and their families and friends how radiation therapy is used to treat cancer safely and effectively. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be frightening and confusing, so physicians and other members of the radiation therapy treatment team created RT Answers as a one-stop site where patients can receive radiation therapy information.

The site was redesigned in 2009 to provide for easier navigation and to update photos and treatment information with improved disease site specific information. RT Answers also now has an improved find a radiation oncologist feature, an expanded dictionary of radiation therapy terms, a list of questions patients may want to ask their doctor before starting treatment, as well as what patients can expect before, during and after radiation therapy treatments.

“ASTRO strives to provide the highest quality of content for not only our members, but their patients as well,” Laura I. Thevenot, ASTRO’s chief executive officer said. “It is an honor to be recognized for the efforts ASTRO has put in to keeping the Web up-to-date with information regarding radiation therapy.”

Source: ASTRO