Radiation Therapist

Job description

We believe a career is more than just a career — it's a calling. Our teammates' "True North" is what calls them to health care; it’s their passion. At North Mississippi Health Services, we believe in helping you leverage and connect that passion with a much greater purpose that impacts people you know and love.
Department:
11157240 Radiation Oncology
Work Shift:
Job Description:
The Radiation Therapist at North Mississippi Health Services plays a vital role in ensuring precise patient care during radiation treatments. Responsible for patient setup, treatment accuracy verification, and maintaining equipment quality, this role demands strong communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. With an ability to adapt to various technical tasks and interact effectively with
patients, physicians, and fellow staff members, therapist contributes significantly to the treatment.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Patient Care:
• Before the first treatment on any field (initial or boost) the therapist will do the following:

o Verify the calculations and CT simulation document with the electronic medical record and treatment verify system to assure that all of the entries have been correct.
o Confirm the initial information in the electronic medical record by completing the New Patient Pre RT questionnaire in Aria.
o Complete Time Out Daily treatment questionnaire daily before any treatment is given.
o Ensure presence of signed treatment prescription, consent form, face photo, simulation documents, and that simulation photos are present.
o Review the treatment area, planned treatment dose, treatment prescription, and treatment plan before the first treatment.
o Record the initial set-up treatment parameters electronically and report any deviation to physicist/dosimetry.
o Perform Initial imaging on the first treatment and then daily to verify treatment area before any treatment is given per physician imaging prescription.
o Notify physician if there are any changes in patient condition or tumor volume.
Daily Treatment Duties:
• Verify the accuracy of the immobilization, laser lines, marks, and treatment parameters.
• Do not treat any patient with any question about the treatment set-up unless approved by the chief therapist or physician.
• Review each chart weekly by the treating therapists for weekly parameter checks, total dose/fraction given, and to verify physician weekly visit is scheduled.

Other duties:
• Schedule boost simulations and treatment planning CT’s as needed for patients under treatment.
• Arrange daily treatment appointments, On treatment physician visits, therapist weekly chart checks, and therapist weekly SSD checks.
• Serve as the on-call therapist from Friday at 1:00 pm till Monday at 7:00 am.
• Coordinate inpatient transport through Ambulance Dispatch and fax ambulance list daily.
• Report any treatment machine malfunctions to Chief Medical Physicist and Chief Radiation Therapist immediately.

Routine Equipment:
• Responsible for checking daily equipment warm-ups and QA, weekly and/or biweekly

Maintenance/Quality Control:
• Conduct machine output checks, patient safety checks and basic machine-maintenance.

Simulation:
• Possess comprehensive knowledge of CT simulation procedures, including patient set-ups, designing and fabricating patient immobilization and shielding devices, and performing CT set-ups as prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist.
• Ensure accurate and complete capture of appropriate procedures and charges daily.
• Initiate the appropriate Carepath in Aria to notify Dosimetry that the treatment planning CT simulation has been completed. Additionally, complete patient CT Sim documentation in Aria and upload treatment setup photos to the shared department drive.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities
• Must be able to plan for effective patient treatments including scheduling of daily procedures, coordinating other diagnostic, treatment or set-up procedures with the patient’s daily radiation treatment and assuring imaging are taken and reviewed with the physician to assure accurate high-quality care
• Must be able to adjust daily schedule as necessary with input from Radiation Oncologist when equipment failure occurs or other unforeseen events require rescheduling of patients
• Must be able to take responsibility for Chief Therapist role in his/her absence
• Must be able to take on specific responsibility related to staff education, supply requisition and quality improvement as requested by the Chief Therapist
• Must be able to evaluate patient status on a daily basis and notify the radiation oncology nurse practitioner, physician, and/or oncology nurse of any concerns regarding the patient’s well-being
• Must be able to work in any technical area of the radiation oncology department as needed and provide support in those areas as directed by the Chief Therapist or on his/her own initiative
• Very high degree of contact with patients and patient family members. This contact includes treating the patient daily, educating the patient about treatments, ensuring that the patient’s fears and curiosities are met and is comfortable with their treatment course
• High degree of contact with department physicians, nurses, physicists, dosimetrists, clerical staff and other technical staff, as well as clinicians from other departments regarding communication of patient condition, side effects and technical issues such as dosimetry and treatment plans
• Has demonstrated knowledge of serving adult and geriatric population.

Physical Demands
A thorough completion of this section is needed for compliance with legal standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Standing: Frequently
• Walking: Frequently
• Sitting: Occasionally
• Lifting/Carrying: Frequently 100 lbs
• Pushing/Pulling: Frequently
• Climbing: Occasionally
• Balancing: Occasionally
• Stooping/Kneeling/Bending: Frequently
• Reaching/Over Head Work: Occasionally
• Grasping: Frequently
• Speaking: Constantly
• Hearing: Constantly
• Repetitive Motions: Constantly
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordinations: Frequently

Salary Range:
$38.09 - $57.13
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree | Radiologic Technology | Required
Certifications:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - CPR