Radiation Therapist, Oncology

JOB SUMMARY
The Radiation Therapist at North Mississippi Health Services plays a vital role in ensuring precise patient care during radiation treatments. Responsible for patient setup, treatment accuracy verification, and maintaining equipment quality, this role demands strong communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. With an ability to adapt to various technical tasks and interact effectively with patients, physicians, and fellow staff members, therapist contributes significantly to the treatment.

JOB FUNCTIONS
Patient Care:

• Before the first treatment on any field (initial or boost) the therapist will do the following:
• Verify the calculations and CT simulation document  with the electronic medical record and treatment verify system to assure that all of the entries have been correct.
• Confirm the initial information in the electronic medical record by completeing the New Patient Pre RT questionnaire in Aria.
• Complete Time Out Daily treatment questionnaire daily before any treatment is given.
• Ensure presence of signed treatment prescription, consent form, face photo, simulation documents, and that simulation photos are present.
• Review the treatment area, planned treatment dose, treatment prescription, and treatment plan before the first treatment.
• Record the initial set-up  treatment parameters electronically and report any deviation to physicist/dosimetry.
• Perform Initial imaging on the first treatment and then daily to verify treatment area before any treatment is given per physician imaging prescription.
• Notifiy physician if there are any changes in patient condition or tumor volume.
  Daily Treatment Duties:
• Verify the accuracy of the immobilization, laser lines, marks, and treatment parameters.
• Do not  treat any patient with any question about the treatment set-up unless approved by the chief therapist or physician.
• Review each chart weekly by the treating therapists for weekly parameter checks, total dose/fraction given, and to verify physician weekly visit is scheduled.
  Other duties:
• Schedule boost simulations and treatment planning CT’s  as needed for patients under treatment.
• Arrange daily treatment appointments, On treatment physician visits, therapist weekly chart checks,  and therapist weekly SSD checks.
• Serve as the on-call therapist  from Friday at  1:00 pm  till Monday at 7:00 am.
• Coordinate inpatient transport through Ambulance Dispatch and fax ambulance list daily.
• Report any treatment machine malfunctions to Chief Medical Physicist and Chief Radiation Therapist immediately.
  Routine Equipment:
• Responsible for checking daily equipment warm-ups and QA, weekly and/or biweekly
  Maintenance/Quality Control:
• Conduct machine output checks, patient safety checks and basic machine-maintenance.
  Simulation:
• Possess comprehensive knowledge of CT simulation procedures, including patient set-ups, designing and fabricating patient immobilization and shielding devices, and performing CT set-ups as prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist.
• Ensure accurate and complete capture of appropriate procedures and charges daily.
• Initiate the appropriate Carepath in Aria to notify Dosimetry that the treatment planning CT simulation has been completed. Additionally, complete patient CT Sim documentation in Aria and upload treatment setup photos to the shared department drive.