Career Center

Summary

The incumbent works as a member of the radiation oncology team at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center. The Pittsburgh VA is the primary treatment site for cancer patients residing throughout a large geographic area that requires advanced and comprehensive cancer care - including radiation therapy. The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist) will help provide care to Veterans utilizing prescribed therapeutic radiation procedures.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• 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: Knowledge of the care and use of radioactive resources for implementation and treatment delivery
• 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
• Skill in providing guidance and expertise related to all aspects of the treatment planning process
• 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
• Ability to resolve complex physical and geometric errors in radiation equipment - simulation procedures and treatment delivery implementation
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with Eclipse Treatment Planning & ARIA Record & Verify Systems
• Experience with SRS (Sereotactic Radiosurgery) and SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy)
• Familiar with Brainlab (iPlan) Treatment Planning System
• Reference: 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to
• Physical Requirements: See Directive in VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist) uses their education and expertise to generate radiation dose distributions and calculations in collaboration with the medical physicist and radiation oncologist for the care of patients at the Pittsburg VA Medical facility
• The duties include but are not limited to the following: Participate in treatment simulations and tumor localization on dedicated devices - including CT - MRI and PET when indicated - for radiation oncology
• Perform or assist in the application of specific methods of dosimetry as directed by the medical physicist
• Participate in the development of treatment strategies - to include generation of external beam radiation dose distributions and the performance of dose calculations in accordance with the radiation oncologist's prescription to a defined tumor volume
• Works with radiation therapists - the radiation oncologist - nurses - clerical staff and medical physicist as a member of the radiation team
• Performs reconstructions of CT studies when requested - when part of a standard procedure - or when required for protocol or studies
• Document treatment parameters associated with the radiation therapy process
• Evaluate - critique - and recommend changes to the radiation therapy process
• Performs Quality assurance activities based on established protocols and documents findings
• Utilizes electronic and or radiation treatment chart for set-up instructions - field size - field shaping - SSD - field compensators - and beam restrictions
• Performs quality assurance procedures for brachytherapy and participates brachytherapy planning
• Works with medical physicist to perform schedules testing of equipment and other mandated measurements of the treatment machines or CT simulator as directed by medical physicist
• Oversees initial set-ups of complex treatment plans - assisting as necessary and modifying as needed prior to treatment delivery with the approval of the radiation oncologist
• Updates policies and procedures for the dosimetry area in conjunction with a medical physicist
• Instruct therapist - residents - and staff on new dosimetry techniques and equipment
• Practices radiation safety in order to reduce exposure to patients - staff - and self - in compliance with department of VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures \"as low as reasonable achievable' (ALARA)
• Document dose in accordance with the radiation oncologist's prescription and consider dose-limiting structures in the design of treatment plans
• Assist in the planning of and fabrication of compensation filters - custom shields - edges - and other beam modifying devices
• To include assisting in the planning of production of molds - casts - and other immobilization devices
• Maintain patient records and files - this includes maintenance of back-up files and editing of patient plans in the radiation treatment planning system
• Accurately reproduces initial simulation set-up - with proper patient positioning - immobilizing devices - to ensure proper alignment and quality treatment
• Provide oral and written instruction for non-routine and complex treatment plans
• Stay current on new developments in the field of radiation therapy - participate in continuing education in the areas of current treatment planning techniques and advances in medical dosimetry
• Maintain work space/equipment - keeping area clean and safe at all times
• Maintains supplies for dosimetry use
• May perform higher level duties of significant scope and difficulty at least 25% of the time - and other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7am-3:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 646-04145-F