The Radiation Therapist is responsible for administering therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation; using advanced level linear accelerators,
Tomotherapy treatment units, or proton therapy units; recording and verifying treatment software; as well as simulating patients in
accordance with prescription and instruction of radiation oncologists.
The Radiation Therapist performs routine, complex, and specialized work as well as integration and administration of new technology.
Complex patient procedures include: stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT); pulsed reduced dose
rate treatments (PRDR); advanced use of the ARIA electronic radiation oncology software, optical guidance, Align RT,, respiratory
management, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), dynamic wedge, cone beam CT imaging (CBCT), total body irradiation, View
Ray treatments, SBRT, proton treatments, and complex tumor localization and tracking procedures. The incumbent provides patient care
within a broad range of health care needs, including operating radiographic equipment in the special procedure’s suites. In addition to
performing complex procedures independently, the Radiation Therapist is responsible for providing clinical instruction to radiation therapy
students as well as patient scheduling, anticipating changes in field boosts, simulations, dose limitations, and proper billing and
documentation.
The Radiation Therapist is responsible for contributing to the efficient operation of the department. The Radiation Therapist is expected to
become proficient in the specialized areas that their supervisor deems necessary by one year of date of hire. Work at this level is performed
under the general supervision of the Radiation Therapist Lead and the Radiation Therapy Services Technical Supervisor.
• Maintain and prepare rooms, equipment, and materials for patient care as needed and as required by supervisor.
• Assesses treatment rooms to assure all equipment is operational and quality checks have been performed.
• Prepares treatment room and equipment for patients according to prescription regarding immobilization devices, field size, treatment
distances, shielding devices, gantry and/or collimator angles, etc.
• Performs quality assurance procedures and reports any deficiencies to supervisor and/or physicist.
• Performs quality assurance warm-up tests on treatment units and simulators; corrects minor faults and/or initiates corrective action
following established protocols.
• Implement and deliver accurately the prescribed planned course of radiation therapy utilizing megavoltage equipment, adhering to
acceptable departmental, institutional, governmental, and professional standards.
• Reviews patients’ treatment plans and parameters as part of a “time out” and quality audit prior to the first treatment and daily checks
patient ID, prescription, and dose to date prior to delivery of treatment.
• Explains procedures to patients and the means of communication during treatment and procedure in case of an emergency.
• Transfers patients safely to the treatment couch, giving special attention to catheters, IV’s, wheelchairs, and that cart wheels are locked
and insures adequate personnel are available to transport if patient cannot move on his/her own.
• Maintains patient field markings.
• Positions patients and modifies standard procedure to accommodate patients’ conditions.
• Reviews and verifies daily treatment time and/or monitor units and delivers prescribed dose while monitoring machine operation.
• Maintains visual and/or audio communication with patient during treatment.
• Obtains required electronic portal images during prescribed course of treatment according to department standards. These images
could include but are not limited to MVCT, KVCT, KV portal image, MV portal image, and MRI image.
• Practices radiation protection for the patient, self, and others; applies radiation safety principles.
• Assesses and evaluates patients for unusual reactions and/or medical problems and reports conditions to a radiation oncology nurse
and/or a radiation oncologist.
• Recognizes emergency patient conditions and assists and/or initiates first aid and/or basic life support procedures when appropriate.
• Maintains electronic and/or paper charts for patient setups and treatments using both ARIA and HealthLink applications.
• Interacts with patients and families concerning their physical and psychological needs on a daily basis and reports any unusual
situations to the appropriate personnel.
• Reinforces radiation oncologist’s and nurses’ advice to patients regarding skin care, diets, general welfare and/or reactions to
treatment/care.
• Responsible for the administration of new technology associated with the treatment of patients using radiation. This may include but is
not limited to, SRS, intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), FSRT, PRDR, IMRT, SBRT, respiratory control, View Ray simulation or
treatment, Align RT surface guided technology, proton therapy simulations and treatment, and high dose rate brachytherapy.
• Responsible for following department guidelines and treating an emergent patient in Unplanned Treatment Mode when necessary late
in the day or on the weekend.
• Responsible for treating critical care patients, patients under anesthesia, or patients with a cardiology device such as a pacemaker.
• Performs routine and complex tumor localization procedures if required by supervisor using a CT or MRI simulator or BodyTom.