Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist

Summary The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (TRT) performs a wide array of complex duties of a strategically critical nature.
Each Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist is required to possess all the skills of a Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist and still possess additional knowledge concerning the areas of dosimetry, physics, electronics, x-rays, electrons ionizing radiation and radiation biology.
Responsibilities Allied VA Health Professional Total Rewards Package: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf About the position: The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist (TRT) is an operator of the Linear Accelerator and the Simulator.
The incumbent will be developing new techniques, defining optimal protocols, devising new ways to visualize and treat pathology within patients.
New methods will be evaluated and new methods will be compared to existing methods.
Interaction with physician scientists, physicists, computer programmers, manufacturers and technical design engineers will be a normal occurrence of the daily duties of the incumbent.
A close interaction and cooperation between physician and technologist is essential to the daily functioning of the radiation therapy program.
Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent will be proficient in performing all procedures related to simulation (treatment planning) preparation and treatment delivery to the patient.
The incumbent will further insure that the treatment is delivered in a prompt and timely manner in order to maximize efficiency of treatment.
The incumbent is responsible for simulation (customizing treatment planning), recording all the parameters and taking x-rays.
From this blocks are drawn by the physician and the technologist cuts the blocks which are then used to protect non-target (healthy) tissue.
The incumbent is involved in patient education pertinent to his/her treatment plan and delivery and is responsible for scheduling and assisting in patient's transportation needs.
The incumbent will recognize signs and symptoms of developing complications during the course of treatment and will inform the physician of such developments.
The incumbent will know when to withhold treatment until the patient is evaluated by a staff Radiation Therapist.
The incumbent programs technical factors by integrating input into a computer which assists in profiling the amount of radiation delivered and the area of radiation delivery.
Performs computer programming with competency in computer language when required by manufacturer's representatives or physicians.
The incumbent establishes and monitors quality control and safety programs with documentation to comply with Federal and State regulatory agencies as well as JCAHO standards.
Maintains operations log, maintenance and service reports and assists manufacturer's representative, bio-medical engineers and physicists in calibration and trouble shooting malfunctions associated with radiation therapy equipment.
Performs required safety checks on all treatment equipment, records all data and reports deficiencies to the service chief and Biomedical Engineering.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8-4:30PM Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 11 federal holidays, 13 days of sick leave and, annual leave is based on a candidate's years of federal service (13 days of annual leave for 0 - 3 years of federal service, 20 days of annual leave for 3 - 15 years of federal service, and 26 days of annual leave for 15+ years of federal service).
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Position Description: PD000000 Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
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.
Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) in Radiation Therapy.
(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.
(3) Loss of Certification.
Once certified, a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
Grandfathering Provision.
All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration 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: (a) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, 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.
(b) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
(c) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
Grade Determination: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10 Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist field.
Qualifying GS-09 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: providing emergency treatment delivery, simple Monitor Unit dose calculation as assigned; scheduling simulation and treatment procedures; handling and storing radioactive materials; educating patient, family and staff on the administration of ionizing radiation; inspecting equipment for safety, operability and troubleshooting basic problems and machine issues AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (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, 8 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10.
The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10 Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of walking and standing, and requires lifting heavy objects.
The incumbent must often assist and position disabled patients, carry heavy objects such as cassettes and lead blocks and lift treatment trays.
The pace within the department is fast and often hectic.
Patients are scheduled at frequent intervals and the incumbent must able to perform effectively under these conditions.
Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.
Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).
VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.
If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.
The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.
For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.