Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Radiation Oncology Service at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr.

VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, seeks a Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist to perform CT treatment planning scans for planning, localization, and immobilization devices, and to deliver prescribed radiation using a Linear Accelerator. The incumbent will conduct CT simulations, create reproducible patient set-ups, ensure QA, and support treatment planning data transfer to the dosimetry system while maintaining patient safety and

Qualifications

• Education program in therapeutic radiologic technology with ARRT (T) certification.
• Meet credentialing standards under 42 C.F.R. Part 75 and ED‑accredited education.
• May be grandfathered for current VA employees meeting basic requirements.
• Progression to higher grades requires licensure/certification and compliance with standards.

Responsibilities

• Schedule treatments to optimize accelerator time while accommodating emergencies.
• Perform daily quality control on treatment machines and verify dosimetry readings.
• Operate CT simulator and deliver reproducible patient setup for planning and treatment.
• Transfer planning data to dosimetry systems and ensure accurate patient documentation.
• Ensure patient safety, proper immobilization, and adherence to ALARA principles.

Skills

Machine warm-up procedures

CT simulations

Isocenter verification

Radiation safety

On-Board Imaging

Education

Therapeutic Radiologic Technology program

ARRT Radiation Therapy certification

Tools

EMR system

Record and Verify System

CT simulator

Linear Accelerator (Linac)

Job description

Summary

The Radiation Oncology Service is a part of the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. - VA Medical Center - Memphis - TN. The incumbent will perform CT treatment planning scans for treatment planning/tumor localization, compensators and customized patient immobilization devices. This is achieved by the use of a CAT scanner.
Deliver the prescribed therapeutic radiation for the purpose of cancer therapy. These treatments are performed by operating a Linear Accelerator.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
  I. 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 II. Public Law 97‑35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75 III. 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))
• 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
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard – but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it – the following provisions apply: - Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration – may be reassigned – promoted or demoted within the occupation - Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration – may be reassigned – promoted up to and including the full performance level – or demoted within the occupation – but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions - Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher‑grade levels - Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed – on a temporary or permanent basis – until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard - Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation – who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: Each uncertified TRT permanently employed on June 21 – 1986 – and whose competence in the safe administration of ionizing radiation was affirmed – in writing – by a VA licensed physician not later than January 1 – 1987 – is considered fully qualified These employees may be promoted – up to and including the journey level – demoted or reassigned within the GS‑0648 occupational series
• Any employee initially retained in this manner who leaves this job series loses protected status and must meet the full requirements in effect at the time of reentry
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the basic requirements for employment – the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist – GS‑10: Experience – At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Assignments:
  For all assignments above the full performance level – the higher‑level duties must consist of significant scope – complexity – range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
  Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments
  This includes basic and advanced treatment modalities and procedures – which exceed the full performance level
  Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on‑call treatments – if applicable – and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations
  Other assignments include but – are not limited to performing CT simulations – troubleshooting for basic problems and machine issues – maintaining treatment rooms and equipment in a clean – neat and safe condition and assisting patients to and from the treatment room
  Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment – the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge – skills and abilities to perform at this level
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): - 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 – 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
• Preferred Experience – Two (2) years of Therapeutic Radiation Technology experience
• 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‑9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑10 to GS‑10
• Physical Requirements – See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled
• The incumbent will be expected to give oversight – training and encouragement to lower grade therapists
• Duties include – but are not limited to:
• Schedule treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases (requires ability to prioritize scheduled patients as well as the ability to accommodate the emergency patient who may need immediate simulation and treatment)
• Perform quality control of the treatment machines by taking recorded readings every morning prior to patient treatments using the dosimetry verification and record system for each energy level
• Obtain machine check for rotational therapy and electronic dynamic wedge verification
• Perform daily imaging procedures to ensure correct operations
• Alert appropriate staff as necessary if parameters fall outside the recommendations
• Identify individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures before simulation and each daily radiation treatment is delivered
• Determine the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders required
• Verify patient consent prior to initiating CT simulation
• Prepare required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations
• Ensure proper use and administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient morbidity and mortality (the therapist must have a thorough understanding of contrast material usage)
• Be alert to patient’s condition and other disorders – reactions on the part of the patient require immediate attention so that harm does not come to the patient
• Operate CT simulator – provide reproducible patient treatment position sets-ups that can be accurately used for daily treatments on the Linear Accelerator
• After CT scan is acquired and isocenter or reference point is obtained – the therapist will provide set‑up DDR’s for use in treatment planning and transfer the data set to the dosimetry treatment planning system
• Verify patient’s treatment area daily in the treatment machine vault
• Perform simulation verification before prescribed treatment
• Accurately reproduce the initial simulation set‑up – with proper patient positioning – immobilizing devices – to ensure proper alignment and quality treatment
• Obtain isocenter verification – treatment field verification of conformal blocking – with multi‑leaf collimator – or cerro‑bend blocking
• Use cone‑bean CT and/or the on‑board imaging system to obtain isocenter verification as needed
• Verify correct multi‑leaf collimation and electronic dynamic wedges
• Deliver prescribed mode of treatment in accordance with prescribed radiation prescription (including conventional – 3‑D conformal – electron delivery – IMRT treatment delivery – IGRT treatment delivery – and Rapid Arc treatment delivery)
• Practice radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients, staff and self – in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA)
• Assist patients to and from the treatment room – and in transferring on and off the treatment table as necessary – utilizing all patient transfer aids
• Work as a contributing and cooperative part of the radiation oncology team – communicating and interacting with all team members in a tactful – respectful and professional manner – contributing to effective operations of the workplace and continued development of a collaborative working relationship with all colleagues
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule – Monday – Friday – 7:30am – 4:00pm (Telework: Not Available)
• Virtual – This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 50862‑F
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives – Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) – Not Authorized