This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL (578) - a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility. 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. Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (T). Education. Completion of a program in therapeutic radiologic technology, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT); certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Radiology, and the subsequent completion of a 12-month JRCERT approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology. JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the radiation therapy programs recognized by the US Department of Education. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified (registered) as radiation therapists in their field. 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: Fully functioning as a therapeutic radiation technologist with the knowledge and experience in carrying out assigned tasks with minimal supervisory controls. Applying full knowledge in compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations in handling and storage of radioactive materials and the education of patient, family, and staff of procedures to follow after the administration of ionizing radiation. Inspect equipment for safety and operability and troubleshoots for problems. Schedule patient treatments and needed studies, ensuring appropriate sequence of multiple procedures and interacts with staff regarding examination preparation. In addition, can you demonstrate the following GS-10 technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment: 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. ???????Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was earned after completion of the basic requirements identified in paragraph 2.b. above. Experience as a graduate TRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a TRT and subsequently passed the certification examination. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a TRT is creditable according to its relationship to full-time workweek. For example, a TRT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Specialized Assignment Definitions. Specialized areas of therapeutic radiologic technology include general therapeutic radiologic technology, simulation, mold room, treatment planning, and medical dosimetry. Preferred Experience: 3 years or greater experience in Radiation Therapy; Experience starting new clinic in radiation therapy; Experience using various different Radiation Oncology Software applications (TrueBeam, Aria, etc.) 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). Preferred Experience: Knowledge of IMRT, SBRT, 3D, and electron treatment techniques that are delivered via linear accelerators. Must also have skills of proving quality checks for new and existing patient treatment records as well as have knowledge of daily quality assurance equipment and procedures. Can operate and know procedures for the CT Simulator. Must know the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) and comply with them. Provide privacy for all patient medical records. Must have effective communication skill with all staff. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G26 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing and walking. There is some bending and carrying of moderately heavy articles such as film cassettes, treatment devices, and molds with heavier lifting of wedges and specially designed shielding blocks. Patients often are assisted to achieve proper positioning, which may require reaching, lifting, or working in strained positions. The deterioration of the patient due to disease progression often requires lifting of the patient from stretchers or wheelchairs to treatment and examination tables utilizing special techniques designed to minimize the discomfort of the patient. ["Employees at the GS-10 level are fully functional as a Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist with the knowledge and experience to apply an advanced level of treatment planning and procedures. Employee 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, cancer therapy. These treatments are performed by operating a Linear Accelerator. Employee will be expected to give oversight, training and encouragement to lower grade therapists. Major Duties: - Performs complex tasks as part of a medical team. - Is a member of the radiation oncology team. - Works with physicians, medical physicists, and therapy staff. - Schedules treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases. - Prioritize scheduled patients as well as the ability to accommodate the emergency patient who may need immediate simulation and treatment. - Performs 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. - Has the knowledge of consultations, simulation, and treatment planning and treatment procedures. - Properly operates CT simulator, provides reproducible patient treatment position set-ups. - Keep current with new developments in the field of radiation therapy and being able to utilize the new technologies available. - Obtaining machine check for rotational therapy and electronic dynamic wedge verification. - Following Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NCR) regulations. - Performs daily imaging procedures to ensure correct operations. - 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. - Determine the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders required. - Verifies patient consent prior to initiating CT simulation. - Prepares required contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations. - Ability to recognize abnormalities in relevant lab procedures and notifies appropriate staff. - Provides custom patient immobilization devices as instructed or departmental protocol. - Obtains isocenter verification as needed by the use to cone bean CT and or the use of the on-board imaging system. - Utilizes electronic radiation treatment chart for set-up instructions, field size, field shaping, SSD, field compensators and beam restrictions. - Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, various shifts. Details will be provided by hiring manager. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
