Medical Dosimetrist-Radiation Therapy

JOB DESCRIPTION

The jobholder with skills in Treatment Planning, Dosimetry & Mould Room Technology will be a member of a team of Allied Health Professionals who provide specialist clinical technical services within Radiation Therapy.

The role is mainly responsible for the daily supervision of the Radiation Therapy department ensuring that all sections and services adhere to the implemented standards of operational rules and procedures.

Responsible for providing skilled professional leadership, acting as a role model for department employees, assisting in the development of a strategic vision for the department and playing an active role in service development and future plans. Ensures monitoring of department service performance, as well as staff performance. Plans and works with the team to provide and efficient and effective service delivery.

Maintains service levels by efficient scheduling of staff and resources.

Managerial:

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and maintains policies to ensure confidentiality of patients either within or without the computer network system.
• Assists the Manager of Radiotherapy in the distribution, allocation and rotation of staff and staff activities.
• Assists the Manager of Radiotherapy with staff appraisals in accordance with hospital policy.
• Co-ordinates and supervises radiotherapy treatment planning in close co-operation with other leads within the Radiotherapy and Radiation Physics Departments.
• Plays a role in multi-disciplinary developmental projects within the radiotherapy department.
• Collaborates with Consultant Oncologists, Radiographers and Medical Physics in the development and introduction of new techniques in radiotherapy treatment.
• Supports the Manager of Radiotherapy to ensure that high professional attitudes and behaviors are maintained in the team.
• Carries out relevant administrative procedures as required including the oversea of department statistical analysis, audits and KPIs.
• Participates in Aria and Eclipse administration when designated.
• Participates and supports colleagues with the incident reporting process acting as the responsible party when designated.
• Efficiently helps, identifies and analyzes problems, recommends solutions and seeks assistance when needed. Is cognizant of the impact decisions have on others
  
  

• Participates and manages the day-to-day work of the treatment planning section, ensuring the timely production and delivery of computerized radiotherapy treatment plans for patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments within the accepted department timescales.
• Plans for patients undergoing radiotherapy with external beam photons or electrons using both manual and computerized methods.
• Assists in all aspects of Pre-treatment to enable the patients to be planned in accordance with the Clinical Oncologists requirements. Undertakes CT planning for patients undergoing radiotherapy, analyzing requirements and making complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume ensuring, where applicable, conformance to international standards and following departmental protocols.
• Sets high standards of technical expertise and acts as a role model. Supervises and develop the skills and competencies of staff providing leadership and support. Troubleshoots to determine effective solutions as required.
• Identifies and accurately contours critical organs-at-risk (OARs) on radiotherapy planning images, coordinating with diagnostics to facilitate and enable fusion as required.
• Ensures the quality of treatment plans produced is of the highest standards and follows International guidelines and that the treatment has been planned in accordance with the clinicians’ treatment request.
• Checks patient treatment plans and dose calculations produced by subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
• Reviews and re-plans patient treatments where required, following changes to the treatment regime or patient shape. Such changes may be required at short notice and necessitate reprioritization of the departmental workload on a regular basis.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff with regard to the feasibility of proposed treatment plans/requests and, in the absence of precedents and protocols, make ethically based decisions in the best interests of the patient.
• Participates in the day-to-day work for immobilization devices, ensuring timely production of devices and accessories required for patient immobilization and normal tissue shielding such as thermoplastic shells, electron end-frames, lead and/or low melting point alloy masks and wax blocks as required.
• Plays a lead role in the implementation and delivery of advanced practice techniques.
• Ensures a high standard of patient care, respecting confidentiality, applying appropriate procedures and promoting good communication, maintaining a patient focused service.
• Participates in the routine dosimetry and quality control program on planning system, treatment machines and CT.
• Ensures that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken in line with facility health and safety policies.
• Works on call for emergency duties in accordance with departmental policy and any planned/unplanned overtime resulting from machine breakdowns and changes in service demand to keep patient waiting times to a minimum.
• Carries out relevant administrative procedures, appropriate to the service.
• Maintains treatment delivery competencies and supports treatment delivery team when required.
  
  

• Plays a lead role in the orientation and training of new staff within pretreatment.
• Plays a role in the maintenance of staff competence in pretreatment by arranging additional training should the need arise.
• Maintains an expert level of clinical practice through on-going professional development, disseminate this knowledge widely within the department, and participate in the education of other groups in the field of radiotherapy. Organizes and participates in Department CPD sessions.
• Provides mentorship to junior staff by using professional knowledge and experience to improve their understanding and compliance with SSMC policies and departmental QA protocols.
• Supports and develops each member of the team, especially when new techniques are introduced, ensuring evidence based standards of practice are adhered to and that the team have the relevant underpinning knowledge to support any changes in technique.
• Participates in assessing and evaluating each team member’s work performance with ongoing responsibility for carrying out all teaching/training that is required to ensure that each member of the team meets, maintains and develops his or her relevant level of competency.
• Contributes to the professional development of all junior staff on an ongoing basis by continuously training and teaching on all core elements of treatment and radiotherapy imaging including specialist techniques implemented within the department.
• Sets high standards for less experienced staff and takes an active part in the clinical training of junior staff within the team, setting standards for clinical and non-clinical performance.
• Takes an active part in SSMC Personal Development Review System setting and achieving annual personal objectives as both the appraise and appraiser as required.
• Plays a role towards the recruitment, selection and retention of all staff within the allocated service.
• Develops and maintains clinical audit processes within the service and report on these as agreed. Supports the promotion of audit and Quality Improvement programs on service implementation, in line with national policy, statutory requirements and service requirements within the facility.
  
  

• Develops clinical audit processes within the service and report on these as agreed. Supports the promotion of audit and Quality Improvement programs on service implementation, in line with national policy, statutory requirements and service requirements within the facility.
  
  

• Takes responsibility for the safe and accurate planning of therapeutic doses of radiation to patients in accordance with the prescription.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring patients receive safe, accurate and appropriate treatment and pre-treatment imaging procedures, setting high standards for practice.
• Maintains treatment records and be responsible for their accuracy using the Oncology Information Management System
• Takes responsibility for the supervision and performance of Radiation Therapy team members under your supervision.
  
  

• NLT 6 years’ experience as Radiation Therapy Technologist.
• NLT 2 years’ experience as a Radiotherapy planner/dosimetrist
• UAE National: NLT 3 years relevant experience in an acute care hospital and NLT 1 year manager or supervisory or equivalent experience
  
  

• Experience with computerization
• 2 years clinical computer planning experience, including 3D, IMRT, VMAT
  
  

• Experience with SRS, SBRT, Adaptive planning
  
  

• Education: Bachelor degree in Radiotherapy from an accredited college/university
• License: Home Country/practicing country License
  
  

• License holder of one of the following authorities
• Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi o Dubai Health Authority
• Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates o Postgraduate Education