Summary

Medical Dosimetrists are fully functional dosimetrists with knowledge and experience applying an advanced level of treatment planning and dosimetry procedures. Medical Dosimetrists serve as integral team members for complex treatment planning - QA verifications - weekly chart checks and ability to train on all aspects of the Record and Verify 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
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Dosimetrists must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: Effective January 1 - 2017 - candidates are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and graduate from a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months in duration
• The medical dosimetry program must be accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) - or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• Exception: Candidates who graduated prior to January 1 - 2017 - are considered to have met the basic education requirement provided they meet all Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) requirements and are in good standing
• Certification All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the MDCB
• Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists
• NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess ARRT(T) certification and be assigned to a functional statement that combines both types of work
• NOTE: The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 - P.L
• 97- 35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• § 75
• They must have completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and be accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or be a Radiation Therapist certified in medical dosimetry
• 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Medical Dosimetrist - GS-12 Experience: At this level - candidates must possess at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level and must fully meet the KSAs
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical (Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities) KSAs: Knowledge of the care and use of radioactive resources for implementation and treatment delivery
• Skill at effective communication and leadership as demonstrated by providing orientation and training for staff - providing input for yearly appraisals - directing progress and coordination of workload - and ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and directives to provide continuity of care
• Skill in providing guidance and expertise related to all aspects of the treatment planning process
• Skill to independently perform complex treatment procedures as evidenced by completing tasks such as developing and troubleshooting highly complex isodose treatment plans delineating critical structures and tumor volumes - performing weekly chart checks - performing QA verifications and providing training on all aspects of the Record and Verify System such as Mosaiq or Aria
• Ability to resolve complex physical and geometric errors in radiation equipment - simulation procedures and treatment delivery implementation
• Ability to follow protocols including - but not limited to developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures - participating in research programs - ensuring compliance with the radiation safety office - national program office - and accrediting agencies - and following established quality standard measures
• Ability to apply a broad range of specific methods of radiation measurements including - but not limited to - diode - ion chamber - thermoluminescent dosimeter - or film measurement as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist and perform or assist with the QA procedures as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Familiarity with different treatment management and planning software: Eclipse - ARIA and CPRS are highly preferred
• Following department Naming convention for all dosimetry chart preparation
• Recent experience with various treatment techniques such as electrons - 3D conformal (3DCRT) - Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) - Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) - Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) and both - Stereotactic Radiation Surgery and Therapy (SRS/SRT) - are required for this position - including familiarity with Hyperarc planning for SRT/SRS cases
• Recent experience with various treatment sites including but not limited to CNS - head and neck - lung - thorax - abdomen - pelvis - GYN and extremities
• Performs ISO placement and assists radiation therapists as needed during CT simulation
• Ability to carry out assigned task independently - such as ability to calculate the needed monitor units according to radiation oncologist prescription with distributions of the dose to be delivered in various ratios applying extensive knowledge of critical structures and their tolerances to accurately deliver the prescribed dose
• Ability to apply in depth knowledge of anatomy - especially cross sectional - physiology - and numerous types of tumors and their routes of spread to design multiple plans for oncologist approval and selection
• Proficiency in importing/exporting diagnostic images from the hospital/internal systems (Brainlab - Varian - PACS servers) to treatment planning systems to perform image fusion with the treatment planning scan
• Ensures CT/4DCT scans are promptly delivered to dosimetry for image formatting to assure smooth patient flow
• Prepares CT scans for physicians to draw tumor volumes
• Contours normal structures - enters treatment fields and vital beam data into a treatment planning computer in a timely and accurate manner
• Initiates complex treatment planning utilizing the most up to date technology available including 3D conformal - IMRT - VMAT - SBRT - SRS and SRT techniques
• Accurately computes radiation dose to individual ports - tumors - spine and other necessary body structures to ensure quality treatment to patients - and safety to tissue tolerance
• Conscientiously maintains awareness of dose - tissue tolerance
• Drafts several isocentric plans - as required - with emphasis on quality of dose distribution - using dosimetric knowledge and creativity
• Submits best plan choices to the radiation oncologists and aids in determining best treatment method for specific patients on an individual basis
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 08:00am - 04:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 82718F - Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist)