Radiation Med Therapist

BMC Software•Boston, MA

10d•$44 - $56

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Radiation Medicine Technologist and under general supervision, the Radiation Med Therapist delivers prescribed radiation dosages using up-to-date equipment and documents treatment to fulfill the physician’s prescription and provide quality patient care. The position is in the Radiation Oncology department and is scheduled full time, 40 hours per week, on days. The therapist prepares and positions patients, reviews prescriptions and treatment charts, prepares treatment rooms and equipment, administers radiation therapy, monitors patients and treatment delivery, and documents doses and treatment-field changes. The role also includes equipment maintenance and safety checks, patient-care and clerical duties, collaboration with the Radiation Physicist, and keeping current with radiation therapy practices. Employees are expected to follow hospital safety, infection-control, confidentiality, performance, and conduct standards.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution, with knowledge of Radiation Medicine.
Current license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
One to three years of on-the-job training or equivalent familiarity with department policies and procedures, equipment, and equipment setup.
Analytical ability to determine appropriate equipment and patient setup, calculate treatment duration, and detect adverse treatment reactions.
Interpersonal skills sufficient to work with others and deal effectively with patients.

Responsibilities

Prepare and position patients according to established procedures, including assisting patients from wheelchairs or lifters to treatment tables as needed.
Review patient treatment charts for prescriptions, treatment times, and prescribed doses; prepare the treatment room and equipment.
Explain procedures, encourage patient cooperation, reassure patients about treatment reactions, and advise them on care of irradiated body areas.
Set up equipment, adjust and activate controls, and administer prescribed radiation therapy using radiation machines.
Place blocks and wedges as necessary.
Monitor patients during treatment for movement using television screens and intercom systems.
Monitor patients’ overall condition, including skin changes and symptoms such as nausea or sore throat, and determine whether physician consultation is needed before treatment.
Ensure blood counts and port films are satisfactory and recorded weekly.
Calculate surface, depth, cumulative, and total radiation doses in the absence of the Radiation Physicist.
Assist the Physicist with patient contours and measurements and with verifying treatment plans.
Document treatment in patient charts, including exact doses delivered and diagrams of treatment fields; update diagrams to reflect physician-ordered changes.
Clean and maintain equipment, inspect safety interlocks, monitor equipment, and report malfunctions.
Keep treatment rooms supplied and clean; perform related clerical and technical duties, including filing, record maintenance, appointment scheduling, and attending patient-care conferences.
Keep abreast of radiation therapy developments through technical journals and participation in educational programs and meetings.
Provide courteous, professional, and friendly service to patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers.
Maintain confidentiality of designated hospital information and use hospital values as a basis for decision-making in support of the hospital mission.
Follow established hospital infection-control and safety procedures.
Perform other duties as needed.