Radiation Therapist

Job Summary

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by the physician according to established policies and procedures, standards, and practices. Under general supervision of the Radiation Oncologist and Radiation Chief Therapist renders quality patient care in accordance with the philosophy, mission, and vision of Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Performs a combination, but not necessarily all, of the following duties:

• Provides quality service to customers, employees, and visitors in the performance of work assignments and duties
• Implements and maintains established radiation oncology center policies and procedures, objectives, as well as quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control policies
• Delivers a prescribed and planned course of radiation therapy to patients
• Performs simulation procedures as ordered by physician and according to established policies, procedures and protocols
• Assists in tumor localization and dosimetry procedures
• Checks films for all treated areas and shows these to the physician. Changes therapy as ordered
• Adheres to the charge accumulation process implemented for the Radiation Oncology Center and appropriately charges for procedures performed
• Checks prescription, diagnosis, chart, patient identification, etc.
• Interfaces with the physicist, simulation therapist, and dosimetrist at initiation of treatment and consults with supportive care staff including physicians, nurses, and social worker to provide high quality patient care
• Reinforces recommendations given to patients by the physician, nurse, dietitian, etc., concerning reaction to treatment and care of the radiated area
• Prepares room and equipment for patient. Stocks room with linen and supplies as needed
• Answers patient questions and explains procedures
• Observes patient for any unusual reactions or events
• Demonstrates ability to tailor care and skills necessary to deliver patient care based on unique requirements of patients' age and developmental needs
• Aids in the training of radiation therapy students
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, professional affiliations, current literature, and in-service meetings
• Attends meetings as required
• Participates in the performance improvement process and projects

Other duties may be assigned or may be modified as business needs dictate.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education:

Radiation therapy school graduate. BSRT preferred.

Licensure/Certifications:

ARRT Registration, current Indiana state license, and American Heart Association BLS certification for healthcare providers.

Experience:

Clinical experience with Varian Linear Accelerator and ARIA EMR highly recommended.

Training:

Approximately 4-6 weeks, dependent on prior experience.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to apply common sense understanding in order to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Excel and MS Word and internet software.

Performance Requirements

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environment and Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is in contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances, exposed to unpleasant elements (accidents, injuries, and illness), handles emergency or crisis situations, and may be exposed to patient elements. The employment may be subject to electrical and radiant energy hazards, irregular hours, and varying and unpredictable situations. The employee is frequently exposed to risk of radiation and occasionally risk being exposed to blood-borne diseases. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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