The position is located at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Specialty Care Service Line, in the Radiology Oncology Service. Employees at this level are fully functional as a dosimetrist with the knowledge and experience to apply an advanced level of treatment planning and dosimetry procedures.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provides substantial input into the development of performance standards for qosimetrists and radiation therapists. Guides the orientation of new therapist and dosimetrist staff, assuring that all competencies are met. Assists the Radiation Oncologist brachytherapy specialist during the OR procedure, and facilitates brachytherapy care across services. Assures that all regulatory requirements regarding the handling, storage and transport of radioactive isotopes are followed. Is an integral member of a team of professionals responsible for the evaluation, planning and treatment and care of cancer patients. The incumbent works with the Radiation Oncologist in assessing the priority of each patient, determine the need for additional diagnostic tests and coordinating the dosimetric planning with patient simulation and treatment. Serves as a member of the simulation team, which collects specific patient anatomical and tumor site data and coordinates that data with the physician's radiation therapy prescription and any treatment plans that have been previously prepared. Prepares radiation treatment plans of simple to extreme complexity involving the use of external beam, electron beam, rotational beam, radioactive seed implants, tissue compensators, wedges, complex blocking, two and three dimensional and IM RT treatment plans. Calculates needed monitor units according to oncologist prescription and dose distribution to be delivered. Must have an operational knowledge of linear accelerators, simulators and extensive knowledge of treatment planning computers. The incumbent will be required to design, fabricate and conduct quality assurance testing on required radiation beam shielding blocks, tissue compensators, tissue boluses, body molds, and other therapy beam modifiers. Incumbent allows for the presence/use of any of these modifiers in the individual beam calculations taking into account any transmission or attenuation factors. Coordinate treatment simulations and tumor localization on dedicated devices, including CT, MRI, and PET when indicated, for radiation oncology treatment planning. Works with the physicist and helps in the handling and calibration check of radioactive sources and participates in brachy therapy procedures. Checks patient charts prior to radiation treatments as well as performs quality assurance weekly for completeness and accuracy. Develop and update policy and procedures for the dosimetry area with the over site of the Medical Physicist. Train staff in radiation safety and safety culture information at the direction of the Medical Center's Radiation Safety Officer. Maintains strict patient confidentiality and protects patients' privacy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Completion of a medical dosimetry program of at least 12 months long accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and a baccalaureate degree is required. JRCERT is the accrediting agency for the medical dosimetry programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Certification: All applicants must be certified in medical dosimetry by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB). Certified Medical Dosimetry (CMD) is the recognized credential for Medical Dosimetrists. NOTE: CMDs who perform therapeutic radiologic technologist duties must also possess American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (T) certification and be assigned to a functional statement that combines both types of work. NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires persons who administer Therapeutic Radiological 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 U.S. Department of Education or be a radiation therapist certified in medical dosimetry. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a TRT (Dosimetrist) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation requiring a certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation requiring a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves this occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency. Medical Dosimetrists 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (Dosimetrist), GS-12 Experience. At this level, candidates must possess at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. Examples of experience are the following: ability to effectively communicate all aspects of the directive and treatment planning process with the radiation oncology team to solve complex clinical treatment challenges, skill at importing diagnostic imaging studies from multiple media types and image fusion utilizing computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT) for complex treatment planning, skill in utilizing computer treatment software to develop an accurate deliverable complex plan such as, 3D conformal, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) and stereotactic techniques, dose limitation to critical structures, Record and Verify software and quality assurance (QA) methods following the directive outlined by the radiation oncologist, ability to delineate and accurately contour critical structures and tumor volumes utilized for development of a deliverable treatment plan through an in-depth knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy and all diagnostic imaging modalities, knowledge of radiation safety practices to include reporting discrepancies and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, quality standards, accrediting agencies, policies and standard operating procedures, ability to provide input or assist with the use or necessity of ancillary treatment devices, patient immobilization techniques and other patient positioning techniques as needed for simulation or treatment, ability to apply new developments, planning techniques and technology in the field of radiation therapy such as but not limited to treatment planning system QA Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Skill at effective communication and leadership as demonstrated by providing orientation and training for staff, providing input for yearly appraisals, directing progress and coordination of workload, ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and directives to provide continuity of care. Skill in providing guidance and expertise related to all aspects of the treatment planning process. Ability to resolve complex physical and geometric errors of the radiation equipment, simulation procedure and treatment delivery implementation. Knowledge of the care and use of radioactive resources for implementation and treatment delivery. Skill to independently perform complex treatment procedures as evidenced by completing tasks such as developing and troubleshooting highly complex isodose treatment plans delineating critical structures and tumor volumes, performing weekly chart checks, performing QA verifications and providing training on all aspects of the Record and Verify system such as Mosaiq or Aria. Ability to follow protocols including, but not limited to developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures, participating in research programs and ensuring compliance with radiation safety office, national program office, accrediting agencies and follow established quality standard measures. Ability to perform the application of a broad range of specific methods of radiation measurements including, but not limited to, diode, ion chamber, thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD), or film measurement as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist and perform or assist with the QA procedures as directed by a qualified Medical Physicist References: VA Handbook 5005/13/ Part II Appendix G66 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Amy Bakner
• Phone: 612-629-7180
• Email: [email protected]