Medical Physicist

Position Summary

Ensures the quality of care in the use of radiation producing sources and imaging equipment and the protection of patients and staff from radiation.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions
Administrative
• Collaborate with the Associate Chief or Senior Director, Radiation Oncology to administer a comprehensive maintenance program for all major equipment within the department.
• Collaborate with the Associate Chief or Senior Director, Radiation Oncology to administer a comprehensive radiation safety program in compliance with relevant State of Florida Department of Health rules and regulations and licenses, including a personnel radiation monitoring program.
Consultative
• Assist in development of performance, acceptance testing and commissioning specifications for newly acquired equipment. Review training and competency of technical staff.
• Calculate or review shielding requirements for new or modified radiation areas.
• Collaborate, as requested, with the Radiation Oncologist and/or physics and/or dosimetry staff on individual patient treatment plans using all appropriate treatment modalities available within the department.
• Develop or review procedures for new or non-standard treatment techniques.
• Provide, as requested, statistical analysis for evaluation of treatments.
Treatment Planning
• Obtain and/or review treatment machine specific data required for accurate calculation of patient treatments. Verify accuracy of computer calculations and approve for clinical use. Review regularly and update as required in accordance with established QA program.
• Calculate or review and approve for submission benchmark calculations and studies done for formal clinical trials and protocols. Review before treatment protocol patients and review the documentation of their treatment before submission.
• Assume, as assigned, responsibility under supervision for initial chart review of all treatment plans, patient treatment records, and supervision of dosimetry functions.
• Participate in stereotactic and HDR procedures, with appropriate supervision as required by the Florida Administrative Code 64B23.
Maintenance and Quality Assurance (QA)
• Perform routine QA checks, including IMRT QA, on all radiation producing equipment. Perform annual calibration of radiation producing equipment and maintain appropriate records. Update treatment planning computer systems, charts, and tables as appropriate.
• Review results of test procedures for computer software updates and approve for clinical use.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review a program of in-vivo dosimetry.
• Collaborate with the Associate Chief to administer a comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) program for all treatment modalities, localization procedures and computational equipment and programs sufficient to assure the accurate delivery of prescribed dose to patients.
• Collaborate with the Associate Chief to administer a comprehensive program of maintenance and calibration of instrumentation used for the calibration of radiation sources (linear accelerator, HDR, etc.), measurement of radiation dose and monitoring of patient and staff exposure.
Other Related Functions
• As required, review and update departmental policies and procedures.
• Participate in peer review and weekly chart review for patients under treatment.
• Assure compliance within the Department with all applicable rules and regulations as set forth by the Florida Department of Health in Chapter 64E-5, Florida Administrative Code (FAC). Write all license applications and amendments to be filed by the appropriate Corporate Officer. Cooperate with State and Federal inspecting agencies.
• Participate in after-hours coverage (including mornings, nights, and weekends) as required to accommodate clinical schedules.
• Participate in coverage at regional care centers.
• Participate as required in corporate wide training, continuing education, and committees to assure compliance with Corporate and Department policies and regulatory agencies. Provide continuing education training for radiation and ancillary staff as required.
• Treat all patients and staff in a courteous and understanding manner, preserving their privacy and dignity at all times.
Demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs and concerns of the aged, infirm, and impaired.
• Address all issues in a prompt and professional manner

Qualifications

Education/Training
Must have a graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) degree in medical physics, physics, biophysics, radiological physics, medical health physics, or equivalent discipline from an accredited college or university. Graduation from a CAMPEP-accredited residency program is
preferred.

Licensure/Certification
Current medical physics training license (MPT) in the State of Florida must be obtained prior to start date.
Since incumbent is MPT-licensed only, many functions (calibration, brachytherapy, instrument specification, acceptance testing, shielding design, or protection analysis on radiation-emitting equipment or radiopharmaceuticals) must be performed under the appropriate level of supervision of a TRP-licensed physicist as required by Florida Administrative Code 64B23 and Florida Statute XXXII Chapter 483.901.

Experience
Clinical experience obtained from a CAMPEP-accredited residency program. Expectations are that the incumbent is working towards
ABR board certification as a junior medical physicist.