Proton Therapist

About the position

Join Emory Healthcare (EHC) if you're looking for an opportunity with one of the nation's leading Atlanta hospitals in cardiology and heart surgery, cancer, neurology, and more! EHC is where those around you are dedicated to the power of teamwork, fostering an environment where you can learn, grow, and innovate with similarly passionate professionals. Work with us to improve the quality of life throughout Georgia through partnerships with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Institute of Technology, and other organizations and make a bigger, greater impact than you ever thought possible. Under the supervision of the Chief Radiation Therapist, the Proton Therapists conduct CT simulations and deliver proton therapy treatments to patients with the utmost in accuracy, safety and patient care in mind.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a prescribed and planned course of radiation therapy to patients as per Radiation Oncologist's instruction in accordance with generally accepted proton radiation therapy practices and departmental procedures.
• Prepare treatment room and equipment for patient according to the prescription and simulation, including placement of immobilization devices, setting of treatment devices, verifying parameters and any protection devices.
• Check prescription, confirms treatment site, treatment plan parameters, patient identification and other relevant information.
• Explain procedure, including pre- and post-simulation or treatment. Answer questions and reassure patient before and after procedure.
• Transfer patient to treatment table with care for IVs and catheters.
• Ability to understand proton radiobiology in order to recognize tissue changes during treatment and proton specific considerations regarding anatomy or accessories the proton beam may pass through.
• Perform on-call duties to provide emergency treatments during non-clinic hours.
• Evaluate images for technical quality, and proper positioning.
• Monitor patient visually and audibly during therapy procedure for any unusual reactions or events.
• Use judgment and inform physician if indicated by patient's condition, before proceeding with treatment.
• Report significant information to designated supervisory personnel.
• Interface in a highly collaborative manner with all members of the patient's care team including: radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, administration and others.
• Participate in the evaluation of treatment devices.
• Complete daily QA process for CT scanner and ProBeam therapy equipment.
• Keep records of these and report suboptimal performance of these systems to the Medical Physicist and other designated personnel.
• Responsible for the simulation of patients on a CT simulator.
• Prepare simulation equipment and room for simulation of patient.
• Simulate patient based on physician orders and established department procedures.
• Document simulation set-up instructions and other pertinent information in ARIA.
• Schedule patient treatments to support patient convenience and preference while balancing efficient workflow and throughput.
• Comply with established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
• Demonstrate continuous competency on an annual basis on all applicable equipment in the department.
• Assist with orientation and training of new or transfer staff to ensure competence in the functionality of all therapy related equipment.
• Support training and oversight of radiation therapy students within the guidelines of the program and the department.
• Assist with the maintenance of department facilities, equipment, and supplies.
• Report maintenance and repair needs to supervisor.
• Participate in educational in-services, as appropriate.
• Participate in professional activities and organizations to maintain and expand knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments.
• Conduct new plan and therapist chart check quality assurance audits on charts of those patients starting and under treatment; ensure required set-up instructions are recorded and plan timeouts are completed.
• Support hospital and department Quality/safety event learning processes.
• Comply with established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
• Submit SAFE or RO-ILS reports as needed.
• Participate and support department QA and QI initiatives.
• Review treatment protocol criteria, to ensure adherence of treatment delivery to guidelines.

Requirements

• Completion of an accredited ARRT/JRCERT Radiation Therapy Technology program.
• Current, valid registration as a Radiation Therapy Technologist by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) is required.
• Certification OR degree required. Degree preferred.
• BLS CPR certification required.
• Ability to work flexible hours including potential nights, weekends or changes to a scheduled shift on short notice.

Nice-to-haves

• Proton Therapy experience preferred.
• A minimum of one year of clinical practice in Radiation Therapy is preferred.
• ProBeam experience preferred but not required.
• ARIA experience preferred but not required.