Medical Physicist

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Radiation Oncology
Full Time
Day Shift
8

Consistently named best hospital, Lexington Medical Center anchors an expansive health care network that includes nearly 600 physicians and advanced practice providers at nearly 80 locations across the Midlands of South Carolina, making it the region’s third largest employer. From general medicine and orthopaedics to oncology, cardiology and neurosurgery, these dedicated professionals combine the highest quality care with advanced medicine and state-of-the-art technology to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.  Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.

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Job Summary

Assists Lead Physicist in performing linear accelerator, simulator and superficial calibrations, as well as mechanical and safety quality assurance. Responsibilities may include verification of data input, review of treatment plans, calculations, and IMRT QA. Provides assistance to the Radiation Oncologists for Radiation Medicine patients as needed. Also performs HDRs (including Mammosite therapies) with Nucletron planning and treatment device and intraoperative Prostate implants utilizing Varian's Variseed and Core Oncology's Isoloader. Equipment includes: 3 State of the art Varian Linear Accelerators with Respiratory Gating, OBI and CBCT capabilities; Varian's Eclipse treatment planning system using 3D, IMRT, and portal Dosimetry; Varian's EMR (Aria).

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: Master's Degree in Medical Physics or related field
Minimum Years of Experience: 3 Years of relevant clinical experience in Radiation Oncology
Substitutable Education & Experience: None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Board certified or eligible in Medical Physics
Required Training: None.

Essential Functions

• Reports to the Director and Medical Director concerning professional and technical activities in the Department.
• Checks the accuracy of treatment unit parameters and settings used for a patient’s treatment, including correct transfer of parameters between all equipment and required calculations.
• Prepares inverse and forward external beam and brachytherapy treatment plans, customized to each patient.
• Presents proposals to Medical Director/Director, such as new devices, protocols, or designs of equipment, changes in treatment, planning, research, etc.
• Performs and verifies equipment, dosage, film, and patient QA measurements.
• Performs specification, acceptance testing, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Calibrates diagnostic, planning, and therapeutic x-ray machines, and determines the distribution of radiation throughout the irradiated area. Transfers data into planning computers.
• Documents applicable dosimetry and physics parameters and calculations required to deliver the prescribed treatment in the electronic and paper charts.
• Performs weekly QA chart and dose reviews on each patient under treatment. Compares electronic vs written and actual treatment data.
• Outlines QA procedures which include tests to be performed, tolerances, and frequency of tests.
• Monitors daily linac and simulator QA values obtained by the Radiation Therapists.
• Arranges for external verification of dose values and calibration measures, such as annual TLD measurements, leak testing, calibration of radiation detection devices, etc.
• Assists the Radiation Oncologists in real-time seed implant and intravascular brachytherapy.
• Determines post-procedure dose determination of seed implants through CT studies.
• Consults with Radiation Oncologists per their request for special patient-specific treatment considerations.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Evaluates all conformal, IMRT, stereotactic and brachytherapy setups and dosimetry plans at the beginning or prior to beginning the course of treatment.
• Operates equipment delivering ionizing radiation to patients for therapy.
• Uses computer and video display terminal for computing and designing radiation therapy beams to the appropriate target.
• Offers input on treatment setup techniques.
• Calculates amount and activity of radioactive materials. Confirms vendor’s stated values.  Receives, logs, registers, and assumes responsibility for radioactive materials from receipt through decay and disposal of material, following established protocols.
• Maintains current and complete records and documentation of radiation safety, pertinent QA activities, calibration reports, and others as required by the Department Director, policy, and SC DHEC.
• Works cooperatively to assist DHEC and DNV representatives with on-site regulatory inspections.
• Ensures proper radiation safety measures are in place for patients rece