Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute (Hampton Proton) is seeking a Lead Radiation Therapist to demonstrate outstanding clinical leadership, safely perform proton therapy treatments and CT simulations while managing other professionals and support staff.
Hampton Proton is the nation’s 8th proton therapy facility and the largest free-standing proton clinic in the world. The state-of-the-art treatment and research center has four gantry rooms and one fixed beam room. Hampton Proton has been treating prostate, brain, lung, pediatric, head and neck, breast, CNS and other cancers since August 2010. Hampton Proton uses IBA’s Proteus 235 proton therapy delivery system, VeriSuite for IGRT, MOSAIQ Oncology Information System (Elekta), Eclipse Proton Treatment Planning system (Varian) and a 4D-PET/CT for simulations (Philips), and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR Ingenia 3T) by Philips.
Our Proteus 235 system is equipped with IBA’s universal nozzles. We are using Uniform Scanning, Double Scattering, and Pencil Beam Scanning treatment delivery techniques in our treatment rooms.
Lead Radiation Therapist
The Lead Radiation Therapist reports directly to the Chief Radiation Therapist (CRT). The Lead Radiation Therapist (LRT) is responsible for facilitating the structure, coaching, and communication within the Radiation Therapy Team while being held accountable to the Chief Radiation Therapist. This position does provide direct patient care.
Responsibilities:
- Actively serve as a leader in the Radiation Therapy Department, directly overseeing Radiation Therapists, therapy assistants, and students.
- Demonstrate knowledge and ability to perform all aspects of proton treatment delivery and simulations. Deliver safe, accurate, and efficient proton radiation therapy treatments according to the prescription and any treatment protocol provided by the Radiation Oncologist.
- Oversee the training workflow, completes department orientation and onboarding to include policy and procedures, or evaluation process and forms.
- Coordinate regularly scheduled department meetings and demonstrate the ability to lead and support meetings when requested by the Chief Radiation Therapist.
- Supervise quality assurance review of chart checks for treatment patient data and documentation in the oncology record and verify system(s). Oversee weekly chart rounds meeting.
- Correlate treatment/simulation room rotations, manage leave requests, and review timesheets for approval.
- Educate and prepare patients by reinforcing physicians’ advice regarding pre/post-treatment care during follow-up call to schedule treatments.
- Maintain a productive working relationship with the Physicians, Nurses, Patient Liaison, Physics, Dosimetry, and MRI departments. Establish practice patterns that ensure the timely readiness of treatment plans or to resolve challenges to improve patient care and service.
- Takes the initiative as a positive role model in complying with all safety regulation governed by such agencies as OSHA and HIPAA.
- Demonstrates knowledge about utilization of proper equipment and body mechanics (lifting) consistently applies this knowledge and shares it with staff members.
- Participate in regulatory and compliance preparedness initiatives and/or projects. Ensures the proper process for reporting machine down time is followed.
- Monitor the professional credentials of the clinical staff to ensure all licenses/certifications/registrations are current/good standing, and not expired.
- Report employee accidents/occurrences—completion of documentation and follow-up.
- Report patient accidents/occurrences—completion of required documentation. Respond to medical emergencies by calling 911 and notifying the physician, nurse and supervisor on duty immediately.
- Responsible for inventory control for supplies and materials used by the radiation therapy department.
- Provide exceptional patient care through the consistent practice of departmental procedures for treatment.
- Explain treatment procedures to patients and/or family members, and respond effectively to patient inquiries, and referring medical questions to appropriate personnel.
- Performs basic dosimetry procedures as directed by Physicians and/or Chief Radiation Therapist for collecting and documenting data acquired during the simulation procedure.
- Effectively and in a timely manner communicate challenges with the Chief Radiation Therapist.
- Maintain effective working relationships with patients, providers, management, staff and the public.
- In coordination with the physicians and physicists, develops, maintains, and revises quality improvement measures, instituting corrective processes when necessary.
- Assure the efficient operation of workflow within the department by performing other duties as assigned by the Chief Radiation Therapist.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrate great influence, patience, competence, dependability, thoroughness.
- Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and high-quality results oriented.
- Precise understanding of anatomy and physiology.
- Demonstrate the ability to be pro-active and have a sense of urgency.
- Complies with and supports all company/departmental policies and procedures.
- Consistently meets/exceeds a required level of leadership performance.
- Promotes collaborative relationships with an emphasis on teamwork.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; good organizational skills; excellent interpersonal skills; positive interaction in dealing with patients.
- Successfully handles issues through conflict resolution with emotional intelligence.
- Possesses the ability to be sensitive to the patient and know when something is wrong.
- Maintain effective working relationships with patients, providers, management, staff and the public.
Requirements:
- At least two (2) years of proven experience in a supervisory or relevant role overseeing employee’s training, development, and performance.
- At least five (5) in proton radiation therapy.
- Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences is highly preferred, but not required.
- Completed a formal radiation therapy technologist program from an accredited institution is required.
- Current ARRT R.T.(T) certification is required.
- Possess a current Virginia license as a Radiologic Technologist or eligible to be obtained within 1 month of employment.
- Proficiently use record & verify applications, treatment/simulation delivery applications, electronic medical records software programs, & MS Office Suite.
- Experience in Mosaiq (Elekta) Oncology Management System is plus.
- Be able to physically assist patients entering/exiting the treatment table, maneuver in narrow machine spaces, install compensators & apertures which requires to push, pull, hold, and lift up to 50 lbs. with the use of hands/fingers for fine motor skills.
- Willing to work Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm with the ability to work flexible hours/days depending on patient needs and department volume.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and Booster or medical/religious exemption approval is required.
