Radiation Therapist / Senior

Emory Healthcare•Atlanta, GA

23d•$48 - $57•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Chief Radiation Therapist, the Radiation Therapist performs treatment and simulation procedures, as directed by the Radiation Oncologist. This role involves performing radiation treatment and simulation procedures in accordance with the Radiation Oncologists instructions and departmental procedures, and providing thorough documentation of simulation set-up, and procedure information. The therapist will prepare and/or administer IV and oral contrast, and perform POCT testing for pregnancy, and in preparation for IV contrast administration. They will prepare the treatment room and equipment for patients according to the prescription and simulation, including placement of immobilization devices, setting of treatment devices, verifying parameters and any protection devices. Staff working in this role will coordinate activities of their assigned treatment unit; appointment scheduling, CRT coordination; emergency start; QA-CT; initial and weekly chart checks. The therapist will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for special procedures, treatment unit operations, and trouble shoot difficult set-ups. They will monitor the treatment unit schedule to maintain proper alignment of treatment appointment durations. The role supports department policies, quality improvement initiatives; implementation of new processes and workflows. The therapist will work with the Chief and Lead to coordinate transfers between treatment machines during periods of operational break down or scheduling challenges. They will explain procedures, including pre- and post-simulation or treatment, answer questions and reassure patients before and after procedures. The therapist will transfer patients to the treatment table with care for IVs and catheters, check patient treatment plans and deliver prescribed doses, and maintain patient skin markings. They will document treatments in accordance with departmental protocols, keep the physician informed and adapt treatments per physician orders. The therapist will acquire and analyze digital radiographs of all treatment areas and observe radiation safety measures for patients and personnel. They will perform patient positioning and immobilization device construction to promote set-up consistency for daily treatments. The therapist will operate CT simulation units and supporting equipment; Power injector, gating, model construction equipment. They may assist in special procedures including HDR; Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Implants. The therapist will evaluate images for technical quality and proper positioning, and perform initial set-up checks to facilitate daily set-up consistency, and confirm congruency between prescription, treatment site, treatment plan parameters, and other relevant information. They will monitor patients visually and audibly during therapy procedures for any unusual reactions or events and use judgment to inform the physician if indicated by the patient's condition, before proceeding with treatment. The therapist will report relevant information to designated supervisory personnel and interface in a highly collaborative manner with all members of the patient's care team including: radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, social workers, administration and others. They will schedule treatment appointments to optimize department efficiency and patient convenience. The therapist will report changes in patient's condition or inappropriate response to treatment to the Radiation Oncologist or Nurse. They will assist with the orientation and training of new or transfer staff to ensure competence in the functionality of all therapy related equipment and support training and oversight of radiation therapy students within the guidelines of the program and the department. The therapist will assist with the maintenance of department facilities, equipment, and supplies, and report maintenance and repair needs to the supervisor. They will maintain a clean and orderly work area, participate in educational in-services, as appropriate, and participate in professional activities and organizations to maintain and expand knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments. The therapist will ensure procedure charges are accurately recorded and perform on-call duties to provide emergency treatments during non-clinic hours. They will demonstrate continuous job-related competencies on an annual basis as applicable, participate in the evaluation of treatment devices, and maintain compliance with medical center and regulatory agency standards in regard to annual training, infection control, Radiation Protection guidelines, and credentialing requirements. The therapist will ensure adherence to patient safety standards and complete daily QA process for CT scanners and Linear Accelerators. They will record results and report suboptimal performance of these systems to the Medical Physicist and other designated personnel. The therapist will 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. They will support hospital and department Quality/safety event learning processes, comply with established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control, and submit SAFE or RO-ILS reports as needed. The therapist will participate and support department QA and QI initiatives and review treatment protocol criteria, to ensure adherence of treatment delivery to guidelines. The therapist will perform all other duties as assigned and provide patient care and/or support activities appropriate to all ages served, primarily adults ages 18-65 or geriatric patients ages over 65. This may also include care for infant age 0-1 year, child ages 1-12 years or adolescent 13-17 years.

Requirements

Minimum of 2 years experience as a radiation therapist.
Certificate or degree from an accredited Radiation Therapy Technology program.
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification in accordance with the American Heart Association required.

Responsibilities

Perform radiation treatment and simulation procedures in accordance with the Radiation Oncologists instructions and departmental procedures.
Provide thorough documentation of simulation set-up, and procedure information.
Prepare and/or administer IV and oral contrast.
Perform POCT testing for pregnancy, and in preparation for IV contrast administration.
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.
Coordinate activities of their assigned treatment unit; appointment scheduling, CRT coordination; emergency start; QA-CT; initial and weekly chart checks.
Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for special procedures, treatment unit operations, and trouble shoot difficult set-ups.
Monitor treatment unit schedule to maintain proper alignment of treatment appointment durations.
Support department policies, quality improvement initiatives; implementation of new processes and workflows.
Coordinate transfers between treatment machines during periods of operational break down or scheduling challenges.
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 IV s and catheters.
Check patient treatment plan and deliver prescribed dose.
Maintain patient skin markings.
Document treatment, in accordance with departmental protocols.
Keep physician informed and adapt treatment per physician orders.
Acquire and analyze digital radiograph of all treatment area(s).
Observe radiation safety measures for patient and personnel.
Perform patient positioning and immobilization device construction to promote set-up consistency for daily treatments.
Operate CT simulation unit, and supporting equipment; Power injector, gating, model construction equipment.
Assist in special procedures including HDR; Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Implants.
Evaluate images for technical quality, and proper positioning.
Perform initial set-up checks to facilitate daily set-up consistency, and confirm congruency between prescription, treatment site, treatment plan parameters, and other relevant information.
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 relevant 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, social workers, administration and others.
Schedule treatment appointments to optimize department efficiency and patient convenience.
Report changes in patient's condition or inappropriate response to treatment to Radiation Oncologist or Nurse.
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.
Maintain a clean and order work area.
Participate in educational in-services, as appropriate.
Participate in professional activities and organizations to maintain and expand knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments.
Ensure procedure charges for are accurately recorded.
Perform on-call duties to provide emergency treatments during non-clinic hours.
Demonstrate continuous job related competencies on an annual basis as applicable.
Participate in the evaluation of treatment devices.
Maintain compliance with medical center and regulatory agency standards in regard to annual training, infection control, Radiation Protection guidelines, and credentialing requirements.
Ensure adherence to patient safety standards.
Complete daily QA process for CT scanner and Linear Accelerators.
Record results and report suboptimal performance of these systems to the Medical Physicist and other designated personnel.
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.
Perform all other duties as assigned.
Provide patient care and/or support activities appropriate to all ages served, primarily adults ages 18-65 or geriatric patients ages overage 65.
May also include care for infant age 0-1 year, child ages 1-12 years or adolescent 13-17 years.