Overview

• Responsible for ensuring the quality of care in the use of radiation producing sources and imaging equipment used throughout the radiation oncology department
• Direct daily operations of the Medial physics staff to include treatment planning, QC and technology performance
• Ensuring protection of patients and staff from unnecessary radiation exposure in the Radiation Oncology Department
• Ensuring all licensure, along with state and national requirements are followed and/or met.
• Ensuring all Radiation Oncology facilities are adhering to the mandatory guidelines and are following similar practices
• Developing and maintaining all policy and procedures across the Radiation Oncology system in relation to physics and dosimetry
• Oversee the dosimetry program to ensure following all guidelines, operating to the highest standards set for dosimetry, and working together with other dosimetrists across the system
• Recommendation and implementation of radiation safety procedures to areas using radiation
• Educate personnel in radiation safety and protection practices

Responsibilities

• 1. Daily/Quarterly/Annual Duties a. Work closely with staff physicists across the Wellstar system to ensure staff physicists duties are performed in the radiation facilities b. Oversee all patient treatments are checked on a weekly basis and chart rounds are attended c. Oversee dosimetry/dosimetrists. Assist dosimetrist in creating the best plans possible. d. Oversee the design and fabrication of all special ancillary equipment, along with treatment beam modifiers e. Perform radioactive decay calculations and computer modeling of teletherapy and brachytherapy sources. f. Investigate equipment performance, organize quality control practices, and implement controls for radiation safety. g. Calculate and design protective radiation shields for teletherapy and brachytherapy treatments. h. Supervision of source and appliance preparation and handling during low-dose-rate and high-dose rate brachytherapy i. Monitor care to enhance patient outcomes j. Supervision of the maintenance of the brachytherapy inventory including assays and leak-tests k. Consultation with the radiation oncologists on the physical and radiobiological aspects of patients’ treatments, and the development of treatment planning l. Assisting the radiation oncologist in statistical analysis for evaluation of treatment efficacy, and participation in clinical trials m. Development of techniques (hardware, software, or procedural) to improve the delivery of radiation treatments n. Ensure physicist participation at patient-discussion conferences o. Aids engineers and physicists in avoiding or minimizing radiation damage problems p. Assists in the development of new treatment techniques q. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties for the Oncology department and other WellStar facilities as needed r. Ensure the precise and accurate delivery of treatment by supervising the dosimetrists and other technical staff, reviewing dosimetry methods, machine performance, equipment operation, measurements and computer performance. s. Work with physicians, physicists, and Oncology Administrator to provide appropriate technology and treatment delivery systems to enhance the delivery of optimal therapeutic doses of radiation with the least amount of patient side effects. t. Directly involved in purchasing, deciding and commissioning for new equipment and treatment technologies and process 1. Daily/Quarterly/Annual Duties a. Work closely with staff physicists across the Wellstar system to ensure staff physicists duties are performed in the radiation facilities b. Oversee all patient treatments are checked on a weekly basis and chart rounds are attended c. Oversee dosimetry/dosimetrists. Assist dosimetrist in creating the best plans possible. d. Oversee the design and fabrication of all special ancillary equipment, along with treatment beam modifiers e. Perform radioactive decay calculations and computer modeling of teletherapy and brachytherapy sources. f. Investigate equipment performance, organize quality control practices, and implement controls for radiation safety. g. Calculate and design protective radiation shields for teletherapy and brachytherapy treatments. h. Supervision of source and appliance preparation and handling during low-dose-rate and high-dose rate brachytherapy i. Monitor care to enhance patient outcomes j. Supervision of the maintenance of the brachytherapy inventory including assays and leak-tests k. Consultation with the radiation oncologists on the physical and radiobiological aspects of patients’ treatments, and the development of treatment planning l. Assisting the radiation oncologist in statistical analysis for evaluation of treatment efficacy, and participation in clinical trials m. Development of techniques (hardware, software, or procedural) to improve the delivery of radiation treatments n. Ensure physicist participation at patient-discussion conferences o. Aids engineers and physicists in avoiding or minimizing radiation damage problems p. Assists in the development of new treatment techniques q. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties for the Oncology department and other WellStar facilities as needed r. Ensure the precise and accurate delivery of treatment by supervising the dosimetrists and other technical staff, reviewing dosimetry methods, machine performance, equipment operation, measurements and computer performance. s. Work with physicians, physicists, and Oncology Administrator to provide appropriate technology and treatment delivery systems to enhance the delivery of optimal therapeutic doses of radiation with the least amount of patient side effects. t. Directly involved in purchasing, deciding and commissioning for new equipment and treatment technologies and process i. Monitor care to enhance patient outcomes j. Supervision of the maintenance of the brachytherapy inventory including assays and leak-tests k. Consultation with the radiation oncologists on the physical and radiobiological aspects of patients’ t

• 2. QA Program Management a. Develop and implement QA program for all machines and systems across the Wellstar Radiation Oncology System b. Implement, monitor and evaluate a quality control PI program that complies with all regulatory and accreditation standards c. Oversee QA on all VMAT/IMRT/Brachytherapy plans d. Ensures the safe operations of all radiation oncology equipment by creating standardized procedures in accordance with internal policy and procedures e. Oversee compliance with all manufacturer requirements for QA after service performed f. Assurance of the accuracy of treatment unit parameters and settings used for a patient’s treatment, including correct transfer of parameters between the simulator, treatment plan and the treatment unit, and periodic review of each patient’s chart g. Supervises initial radiation measurements

• 3. Staff Training/Continuing Education a. Educates staff and physicians on radiation safety procedures. b. Educates personnel on care for brachytherapy patients. c. Competency for all physics staff d. Keeps up with continuing education credits required to maintain the certification. e. Ensures all physicists and dosimetrists up to date on education requirements

• 4. Regulatory Guidelines a. Follow administration of radiation safety program, including compliance with all regulating and certifying agencies, e.g. NRC, JCAHCO, ACR, AAPM b. Participation in the Radiation Safety Committee, and other committees as required for the development and management of the hospital radiation safety program c. Responsible for Radiation Safety program compliance d. Interaction with the medical physics community including participation at meetings to receive and disseminate state-of-the-art information and participation in peer review e. Maintains required records, reports, and files, and collects necessary statistics in accordance with regulatory standards

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.
  

Qualifications

• Master's Degree radiation physics or equivalent Required
  

• Doctorate Phd in radiation Physics Preferred

• Minimum 7 years direct experience in radiation physics Required or
  

• Minimum 10 years related experience in physics or oncology or related

• Must be familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures High
  

• Be able to rely on extensive experience and judgement to plan and accomplish goals Medium
  

• Must have ability to be self-motivated and self-directed in daily/routine tasks High
  

• The individual must be able to communicate and understand the verbal and written English language and display a positive attitude High

• MEDPHYS - Medical Physicist ABR Required

• Certified by the American Board of Radiology, American Board of Medical Physics is required as well as any appropriate state licensure Required