RADIATION THERAPIST

Location/Department: Radiation Oncology

PRN - as needed

Job Summary:

Precisely deliver prescribed radiation therapy according to treatment plan & properly simulate patients utilizing positioning techniques & devices for both patient comfort & reproducibility. Computer skills are essential.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Understands patient safety goals & actions taken.
• Uses 2 patient identifiers before giving treatments or medications & demonstrates process.
• Understands read back of verbal orders/critical lab values & can state process.
• Understands procedure to clarify physician orders.
• Uses standing orders when indicated.
• Accurately calls report to MD as warranted by condition; reports to other providers as needed.
• Reports sentinel events or adverse drug reactions or incidents as warranted.
• Reassesses patient in response to changes in condition after intervention as needed & documents in EHR.
• Communicates with & provides education to patients, caregivers, & family members in a timely manner (using respect & dignity when dealing with death & dying) & documents in EHR.
• Protects the patients’ rights to privacy & maintains all patient information in the strictest of confidence.
• Demonstrates a fundamental knowledge of cancer disease processes, complications, radiation treatments and side effects.
• Assesses patient each visit.
• Records information regarding patient & initiates proper intervention or physician notification.
• Assists physician during exam, if needed.
• Coordinates patient care under the direction of the Radiation Oncologist.
• Addresses patient phone calls relating to their radiation treatments &/or side effects (under the direction of the physician).
• Remains current with ARRT continuous education requirements.
• Reports pertinent patient information to the appropriate physician or team member.
• Maintains accurate & complete radiation treatment records as well as updating medication record in EHR.
• Maintains good communication between the physician, physicist & other radiation therapists necessary for correct treatment of patients.
• Prior to the patient’s first day of treatment, reviews treatment plan, prescription, set-up & ARIA information for clarity & correctness.
• Correctly positions patient for treatment on the linear accelerator & verifies treatment marks via port films.
• Reviews & signs calculations & verifies that prescription is being followed.
• Maintains skin markings in a clear & precise fashion, documenting any changes made throughout treatment.
• Notifies physician &/or physicist of any errors or discrepancies in treatment & prescription.
• Schedules patient treatment visits, new consults, & follow-up appointments.
• Positions patient on CT table using appropriate immobilization devices for reproducible set-up.
• Scans patient area for treatment documenting set-up & field center markings to dosimetrist/physicist.
• Explains the planning process to patient &/or family members so they can anticipate start date & time.
• Clearly & precisely marks patient’s skin.
• Explains basic treatment procedure & means of communication during treatment.
• Maintain visual &/or audible communication with patient during treatment.
• Provides patient with radiation information specific to area of treatment.
• Provide information regarding other resources for patients & family.
• Correctly executes morning warm-up of TruBeam linear accelerator & CT scanner notifying appropriate service engineer when/if necessary.
• Maintains daily warm-up record, documenting water temperature, pressure & level, gas pressure & output via daily checker.
• Properly launches ARIA ensuring connectivity between LINAC and OSMS.
• Promptly notifies physicist when any machine parameters are out of range or limits.
• Notes inventory of supplies on a regular basis, notifying appropriate personnel when supply is low & needs ordered.
• Daily stocks treatment room & simulator.
• Daily gathers all dirty linen bins & deposits them in the soiled utility room.
• Performs other duties at the direction of the Radiation Oncologist or manager when necessary or as directed.
• Participates in & attends chart rounds reconciling any matters that are addressed

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong customer service skills
• Effectively communicates both verbal & written
• Able to multi-task & prioritize
• Able to use medical equipment, i.e. linear Accelerator, CT simulator, Block Cutter, vac-loc vacuum, mask water bath
• Able to operate basic office equipment & hospital applications.

Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree in Radiation Therapy, Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Must be licensed as a Radiation Therapist in the state of Indiana.
• Prior Radiation Oncology experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Constant use of hands & talking; frequent walking, standing, reaching, & manual dexterity.

Frequently may need to lift up to 50lbs.