Career Center

Summary

Employees at this level serve as staff Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (TRT) independently carrying out all areas of Radiation Therapy with additional assignments - requiring TRT competencies which substantially exceed the full performance level. Note: This is an Open Continuous Announcement and will be open approximately 6-months or until positions are filled.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• Education
• Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75
• They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T)
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• (1) All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• (2) Exception
• (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for TRT certification may be given a temporary appointment under 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a)(1)(B) for up to one year at the entry level only as a graduate TRT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2)(B)
• (b) Graduate TRTs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (c) Temporary graduate TRT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• (d) Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - TRTs must actively pursue meeting the requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become certified within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0648 TRT series and may result in termination of employment
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service English Language Proficiency
• TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist - GS-9 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all the KSAs below: (a) Skill in independently setting up the patient in preparation for basic and complex radiation treatments on a linear accelerator - as prescribed by the radiation oncologist
• (b) Skill in independently performing machine warm-up procedures to interpret output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• (c) Skill to independently perform patient chart reviews and effectively document records utilizing an electronic medical records system and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist - GS-10 Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all the KSAs below: (a) 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
• (b) Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is of GS-10.

Duties

• Under the direction of the Radiation Therapy Supervisor - the Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist works with Radiation Oncologists - clinical Physicists - Medical Dosimetrists - and other staff Therapists as part of a comprehensive treatment team
• Staff Therapists are proficient in many departmental functions - primarily the accurate and safe delivery of daily ionizing radiation treatments
• Functions or Scopes of Practice include and not limited to the following: Perform a wide variety of complex duties of a strategically critical nature
• Must be able to calculate the needed monitor units according to the Radiation Oncologist's prescription applying extensive knowledge of critical structures and their tolerances to accurately deliver the prescribed dose while on-call
• Must be able to apply in depth knowledge of anatomy - physiology - and numerous types of tumors and their routes of spread to establish and immobilize patient position for Radiation Oncologist approval and isocenter selection at the time of CT Simulation
• An ability to work independently at an advanced level of complex treatment and patient care situations
• Incumbent demonstrates full knowledge of a range of treatment procedures and modalities within the radiation therapy department
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve patient set-up problems
• Receive patients and briefly explain methods of procedure to the patient
• Must be able to operate and understand Varian Linear Accelerator - CT- Simulator - and any other treatment and/ or imaging machine warm up and shut down procedures for quality assurance purposes Responsible for safe operating procedures of all therapy equipment throughout the service
• Performs routine daily warm up and morning checks of linear accelerators and simulators
• The incumbent works in a highly technical environment with patients and members of many other professions to provide a high standard of clinical care
• Maintain knowledge of changes to systems and organs caused by a wide-variety of medical and surgical diseases
• To assure adequate safeguards are maintained for safety of the patient and the operator - a thorough knowledge of radiation protection standards - including concepts of cumulative dosage - genetic changes - and effects of radiation in living organisms is required Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 642-05299-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized