Career Center

Summary

The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist - Medical Dosimetrist produces treatment planning dosimetry calculations for conventional or IMRT external beam radiation using a computerized treatment planning system. The Medical Dosimetrist consults with the radiation oncologist regarding the appropriateness of each treatment plan and participates in Brachytherapy procedures and Total Body Irradiation procedures.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• Education
• Effective January 1 - 2017 - candidates are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and graduate from a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months in duration
• The medical dosimetry program must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) - or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• Exception
• Candidates who graduated prior to January 1 - 2017 - are considered to have met the basic education requirement provided they meet all Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) requirements and are in good standing
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the MDCB
• Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists
• NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess ARRT(T) certification and be assigned to a functional statement that combines both types of work
• NOTE: The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 - P.L
• 97-35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• § 75
• They must have completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or be a Radiation Therapist certified in medical dosimetry
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Foreign equivalency evaluation from The Foundation for International Services - Inc
• or the International Education Research Foundation is required
• Foreign equivalency documentation from any other organization will not be considered
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Dosimetrists must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Medical Dosimetrist - GS-12
• Experience
• At this level - candidates must possess at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level and must fully meet the KSAs
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: (a) Knowledge of the care and use of radioactive resources for implementation and treatment delivery
• (b) Skill at effective communication and leadership as demonstrated by providing orientation and training for staff - providing input for yearly appraisals - directing progress and coordination of workload - and ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and directives to provide continuity of care
• (c) Skill in providing guidance and expertise related to all aspects of the treatment planning process
• (d) Skill to independently perform complex treatment procedures as evidenced by completing tasks such as developing and troubleshooting highly complex isodose treatment plans delineating critical structures and tumor volumes - performing weekly chart checks - performing QA verifications and providing training on all aspects of the Record and Verify System such as Mosaiq or Aria
• (e) Ability to resolve complex physical and geometric errors in radiation equipment - simulation procedures and treatment delivery implementation
• (f) Ability to follow protocols including - but not limited to developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures - participating in research programs - ensuring compliance with the radiation safety office - national program office - and accrediting agencies - and following established quality standard measures
• (g) Ability to apply a broad range of specific methods of radiation measurements including - but not limited to - diode - ion chamber - thermoluminescent dosimeter - or film measurement as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist and perform or assist with the QA procedures as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• repeated bending (up to 4 hours)
• both eyes
• depth perception
• the ability to distinguish basic colors
• the ability to distinguish shades of colors
• and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental Factors: There may be exposure to radiant energy
• working around machinery with moving parts
• and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.

Duties

• A RECRUITMENT / RELOCATION INCENTIVE IS AUTHORIZED Functions and duties include: Enter irregular fields - patient contours - and other vital beam data into a treatment planning computer in a timely and accurate manner
• Enter approved treatment fields into the record and verify system - assuring all patient data is correctly input and transferred to treatment machine for treatment of patient
• Accurately compute radiation dose to individual ports - tumors - spine - and other necessary body structures to ensure quality treatment to patients and safety to tissue tolerance
• Conscientiously maintain awareness of dose - tissue tolerance
• Submit plan choices to appropriate physician to aid in determining best treatment method for specific patient tumors on an individual basis
• Submit notations on simulation films for proper block mounting to mould room within appropriate time frame
• Accurately prepare treatment charts prior to first treatment with method of treatment to be used
• Indicate vital factors necessary for correct patient treatment such as boosts - cord block - wedges - and other various treatment aids
• Accurately diagram patient set-up when necessary to assure treatment method is easily understood by the therapists administering the treatments
• Record final dose of all treatment areas with accuracy
• Perform weekly chart checks of patient dose and chart radiation therapy review in the absence of the Physicist
• Assist CT scan technologists in a competent and courteous manner and instructs them as to the scan slices that will be needed
• Ensure CT scans are promptly delivered to dosimetry for image formatting to assure smooth patient flow
• Work with Radiation Oncologists - Therapists - Department Nurse - and Clerical staff as a member of the radiation therapy team to accomplish the goals of the radiation therapy department effectively and efficiently
• Stay current with new developments in the field of radiation therapy and be able to utilize the new technologies available to provide patients with the best possible treatment
• Adhere to all safety and health standards - regulations - work practices - and use proper protective equipment as required
• Assist oncologist in brachytherapy procedures and maintain sterile techniques
• Design a treatment plan by means of computer and/or manual computation to determine a treatment field technique that will deliver the radiation dose prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist
• Consider dose-limiting structures when designing treatment plans
• These structures could include the eye when treating the brain - the heart when treating the lung - or the spinal cord when it is included in the area of treatment
• Execute planning for intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy procedures
• Supervise - perform - or assist in the process of producing moulds - casts - and other immobilization devices for accurate treatment delivery
• Work with radiation therapists in the implementation of patient treatment plans - to include the correct application of immobilization devices - beam modification devices - approved field arrangements - and other treatment variables
• Use imaging modalities such as CT scans alone or in combination with MRI or PET scans to create conventional or IMRT treatment plans that enable us to give higher doses of radiation to a tumor while lowering the doses to the sensitive structures around it
• Perform calculations for the accurate delivery of the Radiation Oncologist's prescribed dose - document pertinent information in the patient record - and verify the mathematical accuracy of all calculations using a system established by the Medical Physicist
• Perform or assist in the application of specific methods of radiation measurement as directed by the Medical Physicist
• Provide technical and physics support to the Medical Physicist
• this support could be in radiation protection - qualitative machine calibrations - and quality assurance of the radiation oncology equipment
• Assist in the clinical education of radiation oncology residents - radiation therapy students - or medical dosimetry students
• Understand the technical aspects of radiation oncology and medical physics to meticulously derive computerized treatment plans and communicate these aspects to the Radiation Oncologist for plan approval and to the Radiation Therapist for plan implementation
• Perform routine duties independent of supervision - consulting with the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist as required
• Provide a working knowledge of radiation safety and current rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Interpret and execute treatment plans as defined in relevant treatment protocols
• Work Schedule: Mon - Fri - 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000
• Recruitment / Relocation Incentive: Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.