What ensures that a TPS is ready for accurate treatment planning upon installation?

The readiness of a Treatment Planning System (TPS) for accurate treatment planning upon installation is primarily ensured by acceptance testing and verification. This process involves a thorough evaluation and confirmation that the system is functioning according to specified criteria and specifications. During acceptance testing, various aspects such as software performance, accuracy of dose calculations, integration with other systems, and adherence to safety protocols are assessed. Verification steps follow, where the simulated treatment plans are compared with expected outcomes to ensure that the TPS delivers precise and reliable results.

While regular updates are important for maintaining the software's performance and ensuring it incorporates the latest advancements and standards, these updates would be ineffective if the initial installation and setup were not correctly verified for accuracy. Similarly, documentation accessibility is crucial for user reference and compliance but does not directly impact the operational accuracy of the TPS itself at the time of installation. User training sessions are essential for ensuring that personnel are equipped to use the TPS effectively, but again, without the foundational acceptance testing and verification, the users would be relying on a system that might not perform correctly. Thus, acceptance testing and verification form the critical first step needed to confirm that the TPS is qualified for clinical use right from the start.