Summary

The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist will be a part of the Radiation Oncology service team at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center. The Pittsburgh VA is the primary treatment site for cancer patients residing throughout a large geographic area that require advanced and comprehensive cancer care - including radiation therapy.

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: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75
• They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T)
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for TRT certification may be given a temporary appointment under 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a)(1)(B) for up to one year at the entry level only as a graduate TRT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2)(B)
• Graduate TRTs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary graduate TRT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases - TRTs must actively pursue meeting the requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become certified within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0648 TRT series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification: Once certified - a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist GS-10 Experience: Therapeutic Radiologist Technologist must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled - GS-09
• Assignments at this level include but not limited to: providing emergency treatment delivery - simple Monitor Unit dose calculation as assigned
• scheduling simulation and treatment procedures
• handling and storing radioactive materials
• educating patient - family and staff on the administration of ionizing radiation
• inspecting equipment for safety - operability and troubleshooting basic problems and machine issues
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Candidates must also be able to demonstrate all the KSAs below: Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations - 9 including independently operating the CT equipment - following directives - designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups - obtaining optimal imaging - completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation
• Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images
• 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-10
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• The duties and functions of the Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist includes but are not limited to the following: Schedules treatments and simulations in a manner as to optimize treatment machine times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases
• Identifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures before simulation and each daily radiation treatment is delivered
• Verifies patient consent prior to initiating treatments
• Completes a thorough chart check using CPRS and ARIA EMR prior to patient's treatment
• Brings any errors or concerns to the attention of the physician - physicist - or dosimetrist
• Completes the Simulation Encounters in ARIA and provides detailed notes of patient set up in ARIA and CPRS
• imports digital pictures into ARIA - properly bills patient - and case edits in VistA
• Utilizes electronic radiation treatment chart - ARIA - for set-up instructions - field size - field shaping - SSD - field compensators and beam restrictions
• Is fully competent in all CT and computer software utilized to simulate patients and place isocenter
• Is fully competent in ARIA tasks
• Perform CT treatment planning scans for treatment planning/tumor localization - compensators and customized patient immobilization devices
• This is achieved using a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner
• Has knowledge of consultations - simulation - and treatment planning and treatment procedures
• Obtains isocenter verification as prescribed and/or needed by the use of cone-beam CT - MVCT and/or the use of the on-board imaging system
• Routinely takes port/verification films on patients under radiation treatment to maintain record of treatment accuracy in accordance to departmental procedures and APEX requirements
• checks and verifies any changes in accordance with the physician's request
• Utilizes electronic radiation treatment chart - ARIA - for set-up instructions - field size - field shaping - SSD - field compensators and beam restrictions
• Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients - staff - and self - in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures using the \"ALARA\" principle (as low as reasonably achievable)
• This is achieved using lead-lined treatment room walls - thick concrete walls of RSO specifications - cornered doorways - distance management - and conscientious accident-free beam-on times
• Maintains a safe - clean environment in accordance with universal infection control precautions and other established policies and procedures
• Brings any deficient areas to the attention of the Radiation Supervisor
• Maintains adequate supplies in the department - treatment vault and workstations
• Properly warm up - QA - and operate CT simulator - LAP Lasers - and Bayer contrast injector
• Maintains QA information in physics approved location
• Brings to the physicist's attention any deviation in QA parameter and brings to Supervisor's attention any broken or damaged equipment
• Prepares required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations
• Ensures proper use and administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient morbidity and mortality - therefore it is essential that the therapist has a thorough understanding of contrast material usage
• Has the ability to recognize abnormalities in relevant lab procedures and notifies appropriate staff of an eGFR out of tolerance or patient is taking metformin - on a patient scheduled to receive CT contrast
• Must be alert to patient's condition and other disorders
• Reads patient's EMR for pertinent information on mental status - suicide risk - allergies - PMH - and other applicable information to gauge a better understanding of how to compassionately care for the patient
• Utilize other therapists - physicians - and/or dosimetrist when needed
• Adheres to all safety and health standards - regulations - work practices and uses proper protective equipment as required
• Has knowledge of The National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations - and Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JAHCO) regulations
• Follows established safety practices and reports to supervisor as promptly as possible unsafe conditions - unsafe practices or any occupational illness or injury sustained
• Other duties can be assigned at the discretion of the Radiation Therapy Supervisor that are within the scope of the Radiation Therapist Functional Statement
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 6am-2:30pm - 7am-3:30pm - 7:30am-4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized