California Radiation Therapy Job

Job Code: CA-00-599-LT

StatGroup LLC, a leading medical staffing company, has 5 immediate Radiation Therapy Technologist positions.

Location: California

1.  Certifications:   Completion of course in Radiation Therapy Technology approved by the America Registry of Radiological Technology or B.S. degree in Health Sciences with training and experience in Radiation Therapy.  Technologist must have completed training at least two (2) years prior to assignment.   Current certification with the American Registry of Radiological Technology (ARRT) in Therapeutic Radiological Technology, and a fluoroscopy permit with the California Department of Health Sciences.   Current Basis Life Support (BLS) Certificate.  A graduate from a two (2) year certified accreditation program.

2.  Licensure:  Radiation Therapy Technologist shall be licensed in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia.

3.  Experience:   One year of continuous experience as Radiation Therapy Technologist prior to this assignment.

4.  Equipment:  Knowledge of VARIS system is desirable and candidates with this knowledge are preferred.

5.  Shift Schedule:  M-F, Various day shifts, 7:00am-3:30pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, and 9:00am-5:30pm

6.  Assignment Duration:  6months or 1 year assignment options with option to extend.

7.  Start Date:  10/1/2008

8.  Duties:  

Qualifications:  Candidates must have the ability to calculate sums, such as, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra.   Contract personnel shall exhibit current competence in modern treatment principle and techniques, and in administering various form of ionizing radiation under the direction of the Chief Technologist and according to the prescription of the Radiation Oncologist.  Radiation Therapy Technologist must be able to read, understand and implement computer generated physics plans.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 

a.       Administers radiation treatments to cancer patients using external beam therapy, i.e. superficial, megavoltage (linear accelerator) units.  Administers radiation treatment to patients with benign or non-cancerous conditions using superficial X-ray unit with minimal supervision.

b.       Checks treatment prescription, diagnosis, chart, and patient identification for correctness.

c.       Assists the radiation oncologist in the tumor localization procedures and initial treatment planning of the patient’s course of therapy.  Attached lead shielding block, wedge filter attachments; takes exact measurements of patient, and positions the patient at the proper distance.  Makes a radiographic film of the exact treatment area.  When the treatment site has been confirmed by the radiation oncologist, makes appropriated markings on the patient’s skin to facilitate exact positioning throughout the course of therapy.  Takes periodic radiographic films to assure that positioning is accurate and to determine whether treatment site should be modified.

d.       Using appropriate depth dose tables, calculates the prescribed daily radiation dose, including given dose and tumor dose.  Initiates the treatment and constantly observes the patient through the unit monitor during the entire treatment.

e.       Reinforces radiation oncologist’s advice to patients regarding reactions to treatment and their care.

f.        Records all treatment factors, daily dose and cumulative does in patient’s radiation therapy treatment folder.  Photographs patient’s radiation therapy treatment folder.  Photographs patient and the treatment portal for permanent entry to treatment folder.

g.       Performs essential routine calibrations on the therapy machines.

h.       Reports erratic operation of equipment to senior therapeutic radiologic technologist and/or radiation health physicist.

i.         Performs other related duties as required, e.g. order weekly lab for treatment of patient and record in treatment chart.

j.         Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

a.  Knowledge required by the position:

1.  Thorough knowledge of all therapy units used to administer external beam treatment and radioactive materials used in the treatment of disease by interstitial or intracavity methods.

2.  Knowledge in the use of modern CT simulator for tumor localization procedures.

3.  Thorough knowledge of radiation protection standards, devices and techniques, including concepts of accumulated dosage on genetic changes, effects of radiation on living organisms, the effects of radiation on the patient and operator exposure in order to assure that adequate safeguards are maintained.

4.  Knowledge of basic physics (concepts of energy, electric power, types of electrical circuits, x-ray tubes, and properties of radiation beams) in order to understand the proper operation of the equipment; to perform routine calibrations on the therapy units; to insure that the distance localizer apparatus is accurate, the light field and radiation field are aligned, the alignment of the central ray with the axis of rotation is within specified tolerances on each isocentric therapy machine; to assure that the beam angulation indicators are within specified tolerances; to make necessary corrections or notify the Radiation Oncologist and/or the Physicist that such conditions exist before any patients are treated.

5.  Knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and surgical procedures to obtain the proper radiographic film necessary for accurate positioning and documentation of the treatment portals.

6.  Knowledge of fabrication of lead shields, bolus materials and molds for proper shielding and skill in making contours, drawing dose distributions for calculations of depth doses and translating measurements into the appropriate coordinate system for transmission to our computerized planning system.

7.  Knowledge of basic nursing practices relating to radiation therapy patients.  Be skilled in use of suction machines, oxygen units, and sterile techniques in changing dressings.

8.  Thorough knowledge of proper storage of radioactive materials.

9.  Computer Skills: Clinical providers of care will be required to have basic typing and PC computer skills.  The technologist will be trained and will utilize the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).  Timely and adequate documentation in the CPRS will be required based on the patient’s Level of Care required.

b. Management Controls:  The Radiation Therapy Technologists work under the direction of the Radiation Oncologist.  The technologist independently schedules and treats patients according to prescription.  Technical assistance is available from the Radiation Oncologist and staff Radiation Therapy Technologists.  For radiation safety, direction is provided by the Physicist. 

c.  Guidelines:  Operating procedures and manuals are followed in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements in preparation of the equipment before giving daily treatments.  Basic formula for calculation, field size, correction, back scatter factor, conversion factor is maintained for each individual therapy machine.  Technical manuals and textbooks are available for additional guidance.  The technologist must maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in the field of radiation therapy.  Periodic instructional sessions by Radiation Oncologists and Physicist keep the technologist informed of newly devised methods of transposing difficult treatment portals, staging of disease, and more effective methods of treatment fractionation.

d.  Personal Contacts:  Personal contacts are with patients, and often their family members, with doctors, and with employees within the department and throughout the Medical Center, and with volunteers who escort patients to and from wards.  These contacts are for the purpose of coordinating all phases of patient treatment as effectively and expeditiously as possible.

e.  Physical demands:  The work requires long periods of standing and walking.  There is some bending and carrying of moderately heavy to very heavy items, such as lead shielding.  Often patients are unable to bear their own weight and require lifting from wheelchair to therapy unit table.

f.  Work environment:  The work area is well lighted, temperature controlled, neat and well organized.  For the protection of the technologist, the therapy rooms are lined with heavy shielding and equipped with door interlocks that prevent entry into the rooms when the beam is on.

Our friendly staff is waiting to take your toll free call at 1- (M-F) 8am - 5 pm (CST); we work hard to find the perfect position to fit your lifestyle and experience, travel positions available as well as full-time and part-time. Contact us TODAY to find out more about our immediate local, travel and perm positions nationwide at leading healthcare facilities.

StatGroup LLC offers the following benefits, please ask your recruiter for more details:

·          Health Benefits

·          Completion Bonuses

·          401K.

Highly competitive pay, excellent compensation based on experience plus per diem, lodging and travel expenses. StatGroup LLC is a fun company to work with and very responsive to all inquiries and 24/7 support.

1.  Call 1-, Ext. 8031 

2.  Apply Online: http://www.statgroupllc.com/onlineAPP.asp

3.  Email resume to: 4.  Fax resume to: 1-

EOE

M/F/D/V