Summary

This position serves as the Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist for the Radiation Oncology department within the Washington DC VA Medical Center VA Health Care System.

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology
• 4 Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75
• They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T)
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• (1) All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)) (2) Exception
• (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for TRT certification may be given a temporary appointment under 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a)(1)(B) for up to one year at the entry level only as a graduate TRT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2)(B)
• (b) Graduate TRTs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (c) Temporary graduate TRT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• (d) Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - TRTs must actively pursue meeting the requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become certified within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0648 TRT series and may result in termination of employment
• (3) Loss of Certification
• Once certified - a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• 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: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations - 9 including independently operating the CT equipment - following directives - designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups - obtaining optimal imaging - completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation
• Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity - range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments
• This includes basic and advanced treatment modalities and procedures - which exceed the full performance level
• Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on-call treatments - if applicable - and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations
• Other assignments include but - are not limited to performing CT simulations - troubleshooting for basic problems and machine issues - maintaining treatment rooms and equipment in a clean - neat and safe condition and assisting patients to and from the treatment room
• Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment - the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge - skills and abilities to perform at this level
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to the following: - Demonstrates thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology - pathology - medical terminology - oncology - radiobiology - radiation physics - radiation oncology techniques - radiation safety and the psychosocial aspects of cancer
• - Possesses a working knowledge of consultation - simulation - treatment planning and treatment procedures
• - Interprets treatment plans generated by dosimetry and delivers the prescribed dose using accurate field parameters - relevant treatment protocols - and immobilization devices
• - Follows current guidelines - methods - and standards to perform Quality Assurance (QA) procedures of all treatment machines and CT scanner prior to daily business hours
• Alerts appropriate staff - as necessary - if recorded values fall below or exceed set parameters
• - Highly skilled in the operation of complex and technical equipment to include use of the Varian True Beam linear accelerator - ARIA patient management systems - record and verify systems - electronic portal imaging - 3-D conformal radiation therapy systems - multi-leaf collimators - intensity modulated radiation therapy - On-Board Imaging - Cone Beam CT - and SBRT
• - Administers ionizing radiation treatments from the simple to the highly-complex for the purpose of treating disease
• - Ability to perform quality control procedures for radiation therapy including weekly chart checks for data accuracy and completion
• - Demonstrates proper observation of the patient while performing any procedure
• Remains alert to patient's condition and other disorders
• - Orally communicates exam preparations/special orders to patients - team members - and hospital staff
• - Coordinates scheduling of simulation - planning - and treatment procedures
• - Demonstrates knowledge of hazardous materials in the handling and fabrication of special molds - blocks - and compensators
• - Provides optimal patient simulation position sets-ups that can be accurately reproduced for daily treatments on the linear accelerator
• - Properly identifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures prior to simulation and each daily radiation treatment
• - Prioritizes scheduled patients while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate the emergency or in-house patient who may need immediate simulation and/or treatment
• - Understands the computer operations and maintains proper control of computer patient data input to insure accuracy of data output and of complex computer applications relating to treatment planning
• - Ability to confer with radiation oncologist regarding simulation/CT procedure needed to yield the most optimal images needed for treatment planning procedures to be performed
• - Knowledge of disease process - co-morbid conditions - and other factors relating to individual patients in selecting appropriate positioning devices for procedure to be performed
• - Knowledge of - and ability to obtain - radiographic - CT - and/or combinations of imaging modalities for review by the radiation oncologist for localization of tumors - their extent - and ancillary areas needing treatment
• - Ability to accurately transfer radiographic images to treatment planning and dosimetry for use in the development of computer-generated treatment plans
• - Participates in on-call coverage
• Responds to call within 15 minutes and arrives on-site within 2 hours to provide proper and effective emergency care to the patient
• - Notifies physics staff of equipment issues and follows recommendation
• - Reports all environmental and/or equipment issues - by the use of the computerized work order system - to Bio Med
• - Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients - staff - and self - in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures \"as low as reasonable achievable\" (ALARA)
• - Generates and maintains accurate documentation of patient treatment records in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - ARIA - and the hard-copy chart
• - Works as a contributing and cooperative part of the radiation oncology team - communicating and interacting with all team members in a tactful - respectful and professional manner - thus contributing to the effective operations of the workplace and continued development of a collaborative working relationship with all colleagues
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying ( 50lbs
• ) - straight pulling/pushing - hand-over-hand pushing (2 hours) - reaching above shoulder level - use of fingers and both hands required - walking/standing/crawling (5 hours) - repeated bending (3 hours) - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color - emotional and mental stability.