Chief Medical Physicist

Job Description:

The position of Chief Medical Physicist provides the pivotal interaction point between Director of the Payson Center for Cancer Care, Medical Director and staff of Radiation Oncology to ensure that all technical aspects of the Radiation Oncology program are properly addressed in a safe manner.  The Chief Medical Physicist supervises all medical physicists, and dosimetrists, and oversees all activities associated with dosimetric treatment planning, customized treatment aids and devices, Radiation Oncology quality assurance and safety and machine maintenance.  Ensures that both physics and dosimetry staff are properly trained and equipped to provide the necessary services for the Radiation Oncology program.  Though this interaction is primarily through the physics and dosimetry staff, it also extends to the medical staff and therapists.  

The Chief Medical Physicist ensures proper calibration of equipment, coordination of personnel resources to assure appropriate coverage of all programs including those requiring special physics/dosimetry attention, proper calibration and maintenance of department equipment and oversight of the Radiation Oncology treatment planning systems and procedures to ensure accurate and precise implementation of the physician’s treatment directives.  The Chief Physicist, is responsible for ensuring adherence to required practice standards in addition to keeping accurate records, reports and documentation for compliance by the State of New Hampshire, Det Norske Veritas (DNV),  Department of Radiological Health (DRH), Department of Public Health (DPH), Federal Drug Federal Food and Drug Association (FDA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) and National Accreditation Program of Breast Centers (NAPBC) accreditation requirements for review and inspection.  The Chief Medical Physicist also coordinates technology assessments and equipment specifications to meet program goals, and proper commissioning and integration of such technology into clinical use.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities including but not limited to:

1. Supervises day to day medical physics and dosimetry operations. Addresses operational problems with the appropriate parties; is able to perform all the requirements of a staff physicist.

2. Oversees and mentors Radiation Safety staff in matters relating to Radiation Oncology services, and therapists in Operating Procedures for Daily QA and new treatment techniques.
3. Evaluates and co-develop policies and procedures. 
4. Continually evaluates the daily workflow/operations and volume/productivity and physics/dosimetry resource utilization in relation to patient outcomes. 
5. Ensures appropriate coverage of Physics and Dosimetry. 
6. Maintains an outstanding rapport and collaborative working relationship with staff, peers, and physicians throughout the clinic. Leads customer service initiatives in all areas of responsibility – both internal and external referral relationships. Actively participates in meetings and committees both internal and external to the department.
7. Ensures that the quality of patient care and operations are defined, monitored, evaluated and communicated through collaboration with staff, physicians and other colleagues to evaluate delivery of care – establishes key indicators.
8. Leads efforts to ensure departmental compliance with The DNV, federal, state and other regulatory standards.
9. Leads efforts to ensure compliance with relevant AAPM Task Group reports, Medical Physics Practice Guidelines, ACR accreditation standards, and IROC benchmarking for accredited body clinical studies/protocols (RTOG, NRG, etc.)
10. Designs, develops, and administers training and development programs for department personnel incorporating QA/QI activities and patient safety measures. 
11. Effectively hires, directs, monitors and evaluates staff performance. Responsible for the ongoing supervision and evaluation of staff up to including holding staff accountable for daily performance and adherence to all CH policy and procedures, annual performance expectations, competencies, continuing education, etc.  Promotes team building and provides guidance.  Develops standard of performance, and conducts performance management planning for physics and dosimetry.  Makes effective recommendations on transfers, promotions, merit program changes, discipline, termination and similar actions. Resolves grievances and personnel problems. Refers unusual or questionable cases to Director or others as appropriate.

12. Develops and maintains an outstanding rapport and collaborative working relationship with all staff, peers and physicians.  Leads customer service initiatives in all areas of responsibility – both internal and external relationships. 

13. Actively involved in strategic, IT, and Clinical process planning efforts for the department. 
14.  Keeps abreast of changes in the fields of medical physics. Performs ongoing assessment of new technologies, makes recommendations for software upgrades/replacement, asset acquisition and machine replacements. Collaborates and trains staff accordingly.

15. Serves on appropriate committees including: Radiation Safety Committee, Department QA Committee, Department Operations Committee, other committees as assigned.
16. Maintains strict adherence to CH Confidentiality Policy
17. Incorporates CH Guiding Principles, Mission Statement and Goals into daily activities.  
18. Complies with all CH Policies. 
19. Complies with behavioral expectations of the department and CH.
20. Maintains courteous and effective interactions with colleagues and patients.
21. Demonstrates an understanding of the job description, performance expectations and competency assessment
22. Demonstrates a commitment toward meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and consistently adheres to Customer Service standards

23. Demonstrates a commitment toward meeting and exceeding the needs of the department, patients and consistently adheres to customer service and clinical quality standards.

24. Participates in departmental and/or interdepartmental quality improvement activities
25. Participates in and successfully completes Mandatory Education
26. Performs all other duties as needed or directed to meet the needs of the department

27. Coordinates staffing schedules, prepares and monitors budgets and expenses as well as

      manages Quality Management Program and reviews.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Required: Master’s Degree in Medical Physics or related field.

•  Preferred: PhD in Medical Physics or related field.

Licensure, Certification & Registration: 

• Nationally recognized accreditation board including the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Radiological Physics (and succeeding category labels); Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine in Radiation Oncology Physics; and American Board of Medical Physics: Radiation Oncology Physics 

• NRC or State recognition as a Qualified Medical Physicist [QMP] in Radiation Oncology

Experience:

• Required: 10 years of experience in Radiology Oncology Physics.

  • Preferred  3-5 years progressive management experience

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, functions effectively as a team player.  

• Proven ability to lead and motivate a diverse team

• Effective in conflict resolution, project management and delegation

• Effective verbal and written communication skills

• Commitment to patient safety and quality improvement

• Proficient knowledge of state and federal regulations

• Proficiency with radiation therapy equipment and ability to evaluate same

• Strong knowledge of ACR Radiation Oncology accreditation requirements

• Strong analytical abilities with meticulous attention to detail.

• Capability to occasionally lifting up to 50lbs for handling of apertures, compensators, QA devices, etc. 

• Effective in conflict resolution, project management and delegation

Concord Hospital is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants and to prohibit any discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

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