Radiation Therapist 2

Responsibilities

• Provides education and support of methods appropriate to patients' levels of understanding and motivation. Includes families/caregivers in education and training as appropriate.
• Demonstrates collaboration in communication with team members while being open to feedback and receptive to change; Communicates with families, physicians or other healthcare team members in anticipation of special needs of patients or families in a timely manner to facilitate effective treatment of patients.
• Positions patients for initial treatment and verifies set-up per prescriptions;
• Verifies beam parameters, ancillary aids and blocking via record and verification systems on machine and patients' computerized treatment plans before initiation of radiation beam;
• Detects unsatisfactory set-up and/or errors in addition to resolving or reporting such errors to physicians.
• Maintains accurate records of daily treatments and other records as required; Documents any corrections in charts resulting from changes in the originally prescribed course of treatment.
• Ensures that portal verification films are taken at appropriate intervals;
• Recognizes the need for adjustments in treatment ports when comparing simulation/portal films or patient positions;
• Prepares immobilization devices in accordance with physician prescriptions.
• Positions patients for initial definition of tumor volume to be determined by physicians;
• Films specified treatment volume for review and approval by physicians.
• Marks/tattoos appropriate body anatomy for daily re-positioning on linear accelerator;
• Documents or captures patient measurements and machine treatment parameters for dosimetry planning and calculations;
• Acquires Computed Tomography machine data sets for patient positioning, contours and set-up parameters.
• Attends department in-services, conferences and meetings;
• Keeps abreast of new technology in field and assists in the development of new techniques through participation in research projects or educational demonstrations;
• Demonstrates knowledge of department treatment modalities and protocols in scheduling, set-up and treatment of patients.
• Performs daily quality assurance on linear accelerators, simulators and Computed Tomography machines to verify accurate output of designated parameters;
• Reports erratic operation of equipment to physics;
• Verifies operation of emergency shutoffs and interlocks;
• Reports any discrepancies to physics.
• Participates or provides assistance with in-vivo dosimetry measurements and special dosimetry.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s Degree or Certification
• Experience: 2 years of experience as a staff therapist in a Radiation Therapy department with experience in linear accelerators and patient simulation
• Certification: American Registered Radiologic Technologist required upon start
• License: VA License required for Inova Potomac Radiation Oncology Center