Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist)

Full Job Description

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency.

Medical Dosimetrists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education: Effective January 1, 2017, candidates are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and graduate from a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months in duration.

The medical dosimetry program must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education. JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Documentation Submitted) Exception.

Candidates who graduated prior to January 1, 2017, are considered to have met the basic education requirement provided they meet all Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) requirements and are in good standing.

Certification-Documentation Submitted. All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the MDCB. Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists.

NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess ARRT(T) certification and be assigned to a functional statement that combines both types of work.

NOTE: The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. § 75.

They must have completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education or be a Radiation Therapist certified in medical dosimetry.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Preferred Experience: At least 15 years of experience as a Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; repeated bending (up to 4 hours); both eyes; depth perception; the ability to distinguish basic colors; the ability to distinguish shades of colors; and hearing (aid may be permitted) Major Duties:

The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist - Medical Dosimetrist produces treatment planning dosimetry calculations for conventional or IMRT external beam radiation using a computerized treatment planning system.

Functions and duties include: Enter irregular fields, patient contours, and other vital beam data into a treatment planning computer in a timely and accurate manner.

Enter approved treatment fields into the record and verify system, assuring all patient data is correctly input and transferred to treatment machine for treatment of patient.

Accurately compute radiation dose to individual ports, tumors, spine, and other necessary body structures to ensure quality treatment to patients and safety to tissue tolerance.

Conscientiously maintain awareness of dose - tissue tolerance.

Submit plan choices to appropriate physician to aid in determining best treatment method for specific patient tumors on an individual basis.

Submit notations on simulation films for proper block mounting to mould room within appropriate time frame.

Accurately prepare treatment charts prior to first treatment with method of treatment to be used.

Indicate vital factors necessary for correct patient treatment such as boosts, cord block, wedges, and other various treatment aids. Record final dose of all treatment areas with accuracy.

Perform weekly chart checks of patient dose and chart radiation therapy review in the absence of the Physicist.

Assist CT scan technologists in a competent and courteous manner and instructs them as to the scan slices that will be needed.

Ensure CT scans are promptly delivered to dosimetry for image formatting to assure smooth patient flow.

Stay current with new developments in the field of radiation therapy and be able to utilize the new technologies available to provide patients with the best possible treatment.

Adhere to all safety and health standards, regulations, work practices, and use proper protective equipment as required. Assist oncologist in brachytherapy procedures and maintain sterile techniques.

Design a treatment plan by means of computer and/or manual computation to determine a treatment field technique that will deliver the radiation dose prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist.

Execute planning for intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy procedures.

Supervise, perform, or assist in the process of producing moulds, casts, and other immobilization devices for accurate treatment delivery.

Use imaging modalities such as CT scans alone or in combination with MRI or PET scans to create conventional or IMRT treatment plans that enable us to give higher doses of radiation to a tumor while lowering the doses to the sensitive structures around it.

Perform calculations for the accurate delivery of the Radiation Oncologist's prescribed dose, document pertinent information in the patient record, and verify the mathematical accuracy of all calculations using a system established by the Medical Physicist.

Perform or assist in the application of specific methods of radiation measurement as directed by the Medical Physicist.

Provide technical and physics support to the Medical Physicist; this support could be in radiation protection, qualitative machine calibrations, and quality assurance of the radiation oncology equipment.

Assist in the clinical education of radiation oncology residents, radiation therapy students, or medical dosimetry students.

Understand the technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physics to meticulously derive computerized treatment plans and communicate these aspects to the Radiation Oncologist for plan approval and to the Radiation Therapist for plan implementation.

Perform routine duties independent of supervision, consulting with the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist as required.

Interpret and execute treatment plans as defined in relevant treatment protocols. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 70230F EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V8_EDRP_Tampa@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more