Sr. Dosimetrist

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Dosimetrist position is responsible for designing a treatment plan under the direction of the Medical Physicists and the Radiation Oncologists. This position has broad knowledge of the physical and geometric characteristics of the radiation equipment and radioactive sources employed and keeps abreast of latest technology through continuing education. The Senior Dosimetrist position effectively teaches and mentors others and staff Dosimetrists in various aspects of Dosimetry. This position independently creates complex treatment plans using any treatment modality on any treatment planning software in the department. The Senior Dosimetrist position is able to work with physicists to provide oversight and leadership for new treatment techniques. If applicable, this position creates Brachytherapy plans independently and helps maintain Brachytherapy program.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assumes an advisory role and communicates with the radiation therapist(s) in the implementation of the treatment plan including: the correct use of immobilization devices, compensators, wedges, field arrangement, and other treatment or imaging parameters

• Guides and mentors Dosimetrists and radiation therapists to help build confidence in skills, knowledge and abilities. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards department goals for retention and employee engagement.

• Facilitates open, professional (verbal, nonverbal, written) communication to achieve mutual understanding. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional, providing the highest quality service during every customer and patient encounter.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Applies advanced knowledge and skills to develop complex treatment plans. Provides recommendations and consultation in collaboration with the Radiation Oncologist on development of treatment plans to achieve desired outcome. Assumes proficiency and mentors others and provides training to staff Dosimetrist in image registration with various image data sets to include CT, MRI and PET.

• Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for portal verification and treatment delivery to include DRRs, CBCTs and other IGRT methods, as specified. Perform calculations for the accurate delivery of the prescribed dose, document all pertinent information in the patient record, and verify the mathematical accuracy of all calculations by an approved method.

• Provides guidance in simulations and tumor localization and makes recommendations for use of custom shields, wedges, and other beam modifying devices.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• In collaboration with the Medical Physicist, provides technical support to Dosimetrist and Radiation Therapist in radiation safety and protection, qualitative machine calibrations, quality assurance of treatment plans and radiation oncology equipment.

• Operates and performs quality assurance, in collaboration with the Medical Physicist, on the treatment planning computer(s).

• Follows pri