Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist

About the role

The incumbent will perform CT treatment planning scans for treatment planning/tumor localization - compensators and customized patient immobilization devices. This is achieved by the use of a CAT scanner. Deliver the prescribed therapeutic radiation for the purpose of cancer therapy. These treatments are performed by operating a Linear Accelerator.

Responsibilities

• Schedules treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases.
• Performs quality control of the treatment machines by taking recorded readings every morning prior to patient treatments using the dosimetry verification and record system for each energy level.
• Performs daily imaging procedures to ensure correct operations.
• Alerts appropriate staff as necessary if parameters fall outside the recommendations.
• Determines the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders required.
• Prepares required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations.
• Ensures proper use and administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient morbidity and mortality.
• Operates CT simulator - provides reproducible patient treatment position sets-ups.
• Verifies patient's treatment area daily in the treatment machine vault.
• Performs simulation verification before prescribed treatment.
• Accurately reproduces initial (simulation set-up - with proper patient positioning - immobilizing devices - to ensure proper alignment and quality treatment).
• Verifies correct multi-leaf collimation and electronic dynamic wedges.
• Delivers prescribed mode of treatment in accordance with prescribed radiation prescription.
• Practices radiation safety in order to reduce exposure to patients - staff - and self - in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures "as low as reasonable achievable" (ALARA).
• Aids patients to and from the treatment room - as well as in transferring on and off the treatment table as necessary.
• Utilizes all patient transfer aids.
• Communicates and interacts with all team members in a tactful - respectful and professional manner.

Requirements

• Successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology.
• Successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in 42 C.F.R Part 75 and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T).
• Certification in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)).

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship - Non-citizens may only be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology.
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R Part 75 - they must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T).
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)).
• Loss of Certification: Once certified - a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• Employees who are initially retained in this manner who leave this job series lose protected status and must meet the full requirements in effect at the time of reentry.
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist - GS-10: Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Benefits

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Pay

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Schedule

This vacancy will remain open until filled. The incumbent will be expected to give oversight - training and encouragement to lower grade therapists. Duties include - but are not limited to: Schedules treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency casesThis requires the ability to prioritize scheduled patients as well as the ability to accommodate the emergency patient who may need immediate simulation and treatmentPerforms quality control of the treatment machines by taking recorded readings every morning prior to patient treatments using the dosimetry verification and record system for each energy levelObtaining machine check for rotational therapy and electronic dynamic wedge verificationPerforms daily imaging procedures to ensure correct operationsAlerts appropriate staff as necessary if parameters fall outside the recommendationsIdentifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures before simulation and each daily radiation treatment is deliveredAbility to determine the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders requiredVerifies patient consent prior to initiating CT simulationPrepares required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulationsEnsures proper use and administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient morbidity and mortality - therefore it is essential that the therapist has a thorough understanding of contrast material usageMust be alert to patient's condition and other disordersReactions on the part of the patient require immediate attention so that harm does not come to the patientProperly operates CT simulator - provides reproducible patient treatment position sets-upsThat can be accurately used for daily treatments on the Linear AcceleratorAfter CT scan is acquired and isocenter or reference point is obtained - the therapist will provide set-up DDR's for use in treatment planning and transfer the data set to the dosimetry treatment planning systemVerifies patient's treatment area daily in the treatment machine vaultPerforms simulation verification before prescribed treatmentAccurately reproduces initial (simulation set-up - with proper patient positioning - immobilizing devices - to ensure proper alignment and quality treatmentObtains isocenter verification - treatment field verification of conformal blocking - with multi-leaf collimator - or cerro-bend blockingObtains isocenter verification as needed by the use to cone bean CT and or the use of the on-board imaging systemVerifies correct multi-leaf collimation and electronic dynamic wedgesDelivers prescribed mode of treatment in accordance with prescribed radiation prescriptionThis included conventional - 3-D conformal - electron delivery - IMRT treatment delivery - IGRT treatment delivery - and Rapid Arc treatment deliveryPractices radiation safety in order to reduce exposure to patients - staff - and self - in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures "as low as reasonable achievable" (ALARA)This is achieved by the use of lead-lined treatment room walls - cornered doorways - distance management - and conscientious accident-free beam-on timesAssists patients to and from the treatment room - as well as in transferring on and off the treatment table as necessaryUtilizing all patient transfer aidsThe ability to work as a contributing and cooperative part of the radiation oncology team - communicating and interacting with all team members in a tactful - respectful and professional mannerThus contributing to the effective operations of the workplace and continued development of a collaborative working relationship with all colleaguesOther duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday- Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 50862-FRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.