Job Description
Job Description
1. Performs a variety of radiation oncology procedures for radiation oncology patients as requested by the healthcare provider and assists in managing the overall care of the patient.
- Provide precise/accurate radiation treatments and simulations to ensure patient safety and quality care.
- Maintain technical expertise in operation of radiation therapy equipment.
- Accurately perform basic dose calculations.
- Accurately interpret and implement prescription and treatment plan as directed by the radiation oncologist.
- Maintain complete chart for each patient including all pertinent clinical information.
- Assist with brachytherapy procedures.
- Practice within the published task inventory or scope of practice for radiographers and radiation therapists as defined by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology.
- Monitor patient’s clinical progress and refer patients to medical or nursing staff for appropriate intervention.
- Accurately communicate patients’ needs and issues with other members of the healthcare team.
2. Prepares room and equipment for radiation therapy.
- Carefully follow warm-up procedure/dose check on linear accelerators, simulators and CT scanners daily to ensure accurate and safe treatments.
- Ascertain equipment malfunction and/or output variances and report to physicist, lead therapist or manager.
- Check the prescribed dose and verify machine settings prior to initiating treatment.
- Disinfects all equipment after and after each patient contact.
- Follows infection control procedures.
- Maintains and restocks appropriate supplies.
- Follows established protocol in accordance with the requested procedure being conducted.
- Ensures all equipment is maintenance and in optimal function condition.
- Reports and follows up on equipment issues.
3. Prepares patient for procedures.
- Identifies patient appropriately.
- Validates the procedure to be performed with the patient and obtains necessary consent.
- Validates patient prep and medical history for exam ordered.
- Explains procedures to the patient effectively.
- Perform weekly chart checks to ensure accuracy in patient chart.
- Assists in performing first aid as needed.
- Anticipates and responds appropriately to the needs of the patient and his or her family.
- Schedule all patients to allow enough time to thoroughly complete each procedure while maintaining well run, efficient operation.
- Respond appropriately to unexpected scheduling changes and ensure patient care and convenience are maintained whenever possible and patients are notified of any changes.
- Educate and instruct patients about treatment and reinforce advice given by physicians and nurses at a level the patient can understand; including education on procedures, skin care, side effects, and nutrition within their scope of practice.
- Observe patients for physical and emotional changes, side effects and nutrition needs.
- Ensure patients are seen by physicians in accordance with departmental policy and procedure.
4. Completes Quality Assurance measures to promote patient safety and outcomes.
- Participate in performance improvement and quality assurance programs to ensure the accuracy and safety of radiation treatments delivered, meet regulatory requirements and ensure patient and personal safety.
- Follow quality assurance procedures to guarantee daily accuracy throughout a patient’s course of treatment.
- Obtain treatment field localization and review films with physician per policy.
- Accurately identify anatomy and adjust ports solely when policy allows.
- Actively participate in weekly departmental patient conferences to discuss patient progress, complications, field changes and other issues relating to the care of the patient under treatment.
- Perform data collection for designated QA/QI monitors as requested.
- Adhere to strict safety guidelines.
- Maintain knowledge of basic radiation physics and principles of ionizing radiation in handling and use of radioactive materials.
- Provide clinical instruction, in-services, and continuing education as needed in support of the radiation therapy curriculum.
5. Follows established radiation safety policies and procedures to protect patients and staff and performs in a manner that ensures patient safety.
- Follow policies/procedures/regulatory requirements and perform other work assignments.
- Wears personal radiation monitoring device while on duty.
6. Performs patient documentation and completes necessary office duties.
- Ensures patient reports are received in a timely manner for the health care provider. Ensures patient charges are accurately documented using the EHR system.
- Provides input and assists with maintaining department policies, procedures, and product information.
- Provides patient demographics and reports to hospital billing system.
- Ensures correct patient exam is filed so charges are accurate for billing.
- Document patient set up information and daily/cumulative dosage and verify at regular intervals to ensure accuracy.
7. Communicates effectively.
- Communicates and collaborates effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
- Identifies and recognizes abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and takes appropriate action. Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.