RADIATION THERAPIST - Radiation Therapy

Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of ionizing radiation treatment, CT simulation and technology and delivers prescribed treatment plan based on direction from the radiation oncologist(s).

Maintains high professional standards of conduct and patient care, ensuring patient and employee safety and confidentiality.

Adheres to the employee expectations and values set forth.

Experience, Licensure/Certification, and Education requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited school in Radiation Therapy required
• Virginia State License
• Certified or certification eligible by American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Radiation Therapy (renewed annually) required.
• Certification in CPR required
• Two or more years of experience as a radiation therapist in a progressive environment preferred

Job Duties

CT Simulation

• Ensures that the patient consent forms are signed and orders are authenticated before initiating simulation
• Performs time out procedure per department policy
• Properly utilizes treatment positional aids and immobilization devices per physician’s orders
• Performs simulator procedures as specified by radiation oncologist, incorporating basic principles of radiation
• Marks patient and documents patient set up information.
• Enters patient information accurately into CT Sim and exports plan.
• Follows department procedure in completion of patient QCL, scheduling, and documentation
• Communicate thoroughly to other Radiation Team members any unusual set up issues or CT Simulation complexities that would affect patient set up or dosimetry treatment plan
• Performs patient treatment education and distress screening as needed.

Notifies other Cancer Center team members such as social worker and dietician of patient needs

• Captures Codes simulation charges accurately

Radiation Treatment Delivery

• Ensures treatment plan is approved by the Medical Dosimetrist, Medical Physicist and Radiation Oncologist prior to initiating treatment
• Ensures prescription is completed and authenticated by Radiation Oncologist prior to initiating treatment
• Performs time out procedure per department policy
• Consistently uses prescribed treatment devices/immobilization devices as prescribed by physician
• Positions patient according to technical set up instructions
• Delivers prescribed planned course of radiation therapy with minimal supervision, providing appropriate care to adult and geriatric patients.
• Maintains visual and audible communication with the patient during treatment.
• Performs imaging as prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist and department policy
• Performs OSLD readings as prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist
• Reviews treatment record info and compares with the verification system at all times
• Provide documentation /photos as needed of the patient’s treatment
• Assesses patient’s response to treatment and refers appropriately.
• Communicates with physicians and other healthcare team members in anticipation of special needs of patients and/or families in a timely manner to  facilitate effective treatment of patients
• Coordinates radiation oncology appointments with other Cancer Center team members
• Effectively organizes the scheduling of treatments of patients to maintain efficiency and minimize patient wait times
• Contacts patients who have missed treatments to determine reason and follows up appropriately.

Radiation Safety and Equipment

• Provides radiation protection for patients and co-workers according to departmental policy.
• Conducts QC on all equipment per department policies and procedures Report any QC values out of range to the Medical Physicist and Chief Radiation Therapist
• Report operational equipment issues to Clinical Engineering, Medical Physicist and Chief Radiation Therapist. Log all equipment issues into the appropriate log book
• Ensures that physicist has authenticated calculations prior to initiation of treatment

Departmental Policies and Procedures

• Attends required in-services, and actively participates in self-education
• Maintains continuing education required by ARRT to maintain certification
• Completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Uses proper body mechanics when assisting patients
• Adapts communication style to meet age-specific needs of patient
• Assume weekly on-call status on a rotation basis

Some Benefits of Working at Augusta Health Include

• Generous paid time off to promote work life balance
• Competitive Pay
• Retirement Plan
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Free onsite parking
• Tuition reimbursement
• Onsite childcare

Company Information

Augusta Health is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit, community health system located in Fishersville Virginia in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley.

Augusta Health offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services which includes Augusta Medical Center a 255 bed inpatient facility and Augusta Medical Group which is comprised of 40 practice locations and four urgent care locations.

Equal Opportunity

Augusta Health recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.