Senior Radiation Physicist - Radiation Oncology (Medical Center)

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Radiation Physicist is responsible for ensuring the safe and accurate use of radiation for therapy as prescribed by the Physician through oversight of the technical aspects of radiation therapy, including imaging, planning, treatment, and associated procedures, and protecting patients, staff and public from radiation harm. Performs quality assurance testing, calibrates radiation therapy equipment, leads the implementation of new technologies, and develops policies and procedures. The incumbent will develop testing, evaluate performance, and documentation adhering to accreditation and regulatory requirements. This position will also assist in the training of junior level Radiation Physicists and residents.

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

• Works with therapy staff to ensure that periodic machine quality assurance is routinely and appropriately performed.

• Surveilles engineering/vendor staff work to ensure machine repairs and upgrades are adequately performed and machine performance verified.

• Provides consultation to physicians, and guidance to dosimetrists and therapists regarding best approaches to simulate, plan, image and treat patients to assure accurate delivery of prescribed radiation dosage to a specific human patient, and the associated risk.

• Supports the training of departmental personnel as needed to effectively and safely utilize equipment for patient care and the didactic education and hands-on training for radiation oncology and medical physics residents and other trainees. Provides guidance and supervision to junior medical physicist.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops procedures for testing and evaluating performance levels of radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment. Assists in the development and execution of plans for acceptance and commissioning of new radiotherapy and dosimetry equipment and software.

• Provides documentation that radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment meet accreditation and regulatory compliance requirements. Participates in the specification of the physics instrumentation used in the measurement and performance testing of therapeutic equipment.

• Participates in the development and management of quality control program for a radiation treatment facility that includes applicable facility accreditation requirements, and the review of policies and procedures pertaining to therapeutic radiation and its safe and appropriate use.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures that quality assurance is performed to verify proper functioning after installation, repair or upgrade of radiation treatment equipment and software. It includes acceptance testing of radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment, calibration and characterization of radiation beams from therapeutic equipment including radiation quantity, quality, and distribution characteristics, and assessment of the mechanical and geometric optics for proper placement of the beam. It also includes calibration and/or verification of the physical and radiological characteristics of brachy