Stephen T. Lutz, M.D., a radiation oncologist on the medical staff of Marion General Hospital, was recently named to national committees responsible for setting end-of-life care standards for cancer patients.

Dr. Lutz was named chair of the Radiation Oncology Bone Metastasis Expert Panel for the American College of Radiology. During his three-year term, he will direct the panel’s efforts to find the best ways to diagnose and treat patients whose cancer has spread to the bone.

As the lead coordinator of the Bone Metastasis Committee of the International Consensus Project, Dr. Lutz will critically evaluate bone metastasis treatment options with national experts. He will present the results of this project at the national meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in 2010; the results will be used as a medical reference for the following 10 years.

Dr. Lutz will also participate with the National Committee for Quality Assurance in the development of Clinician Level Measures for Palliative and End of Life Care. He will help to define that group of cancer patients which qualifies for the proposed Medicare billing code that will reimburse physicians for providing end-of-life symptom relief.

Dr. Lutz serves as a member of Marion General Hospital’s Cancer Committee and is one of a select few radiation oncologists worldwide to hold dual certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.