Dosimetrist

Overview:

CHI Memorial Hospital now part of CommonSpirit Health formed between Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health is once again the only hospital in the Chattanooga area to be named a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. We are proud to be the regional referral center of choice providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. We offer the following benefits to support you and your family: On-site childcare with extended hours Care@Work premium account for additional support with children pets dependent adults and household needs Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family Paid Time Off (PTO) Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Flexible spending accounts Voluntary Protection: Group Accident Critical Illness and Identify Theft Adoption Assistance Tuition Assistance for career growth and development Matching 401(k) and 457(b) Retirement Programs Wellness Program Additional incentives for eligible full time day shift and night shift opportunities

Under the supervision of the Lead Physicist the Dosimetrist is responsible to assist the Radiation Oncologist in providing safe and effective treatment to radiation therapy patients. The dosimetrist, working with the overall direction of the medical physicists and under the direct supervision of the Lead Medical Physicist, must be able to perform the following specific duties to meet this responsibility. Renew credentials annually, and adhere to the MDCB Ethical Standards.

1. Treatment Planning

• Ascertains the Radiation Oncologists treatment objective, including critical organs and the doses limitations of those organs.
• Supervises and electronically assess the simulation to ensure all data needed for treatment planning is obtained.

• Ensures patient is set up in an appropriate, reproducible position for treatment planning during the CT or conventional simulation.
• Supervises and electronically assess measurements, contours and the collection of other data that may be needed for treatment planning.

• Provides accurate treatment plans to the Radiation Oncologist in a timely manner presenting the physician with treatment options for their selection.
• Calculates treatment dosages independent of Treatment Planning System.
• Must be self-starter and able to work independently.

2. Implementation of Treatment Plans

• Supervises construction of customized treatment devises.
• Enters the prescription and treatment parameters into the verification and record system in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensures the treatment therapists are provided with clear, detailed with electronically written instructions for each patients treatment.
• Explains verbally or electronically treatments to the therapists and answers questions about variations in treatment protocol.
• Supervises initial patient treatments and major modifications of treatment fields.
• Ensures proper and permanent documentation of all treatment changes.
• Identifies potential problems with patient positioning or other technical aspects of treatments, and alerts the medical physicists of these situations.

3. Quality Assurance

• Performs weekly evaluation of patient charts for calculation errors or other problems, and corrects deficiencies as needed. Informs medical physicist of major systematic errors and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
• Checks the verification and record system for accuracy of entries.
• Assists the medical physicist in quality assurance testing and special dosimetry projects.
• Earn and document 50 continuing education credits in 5 year cycle with MDCB.

4. Other Duties

• Assist radiation oncologist and medical physicist in procedures involving intracavitary and interstitial sealed sources.
• Assists in teaching staff therapists and students applied aspects of dosimetry.
• Keeps current on new treatment planning techniques, devices and methods.
• Maintains extremely close communication with medical physicists. Identifies any areas of uncertainty or concern, major or systemic errors. Works closely with physicists in the formation and implementation of new techniques or the modification of existing treatment protocols.

Bachelors degree Compliant to MDCB for Radiologic Technology and Completion of one-year accredited Radiation Dosimetry program, or Equivalent as approved by MDCB guidelines.

Must be certified by the MDCB in medical radiation dosimetry.

MDCB Board eligible candidates must attain MDCB certification within two years of hire as medical dosimetrist.

CMD within 24 months

Use of linear accelerator, CT simulator, film processor, treatment computer planning system, FAX machine, telephone and copier, and Record and Verify Computer System.

Maintain necessary CMEs per MDCB Guidelines.