Team Leader Radiation Therapist

Oversees and guides the team in various aspects of our workflow, ensuring seamless operations from patient referral to follow-up care including those in the mould room, localization and planning, treatment delivery, and patient management and care. Leads by example, adhering to established departmental practices and standards while supporting and assisting the team members in delivering high-quality care to our patients. Maintains the efficiency and effectiveness of our department's operations while upholding the highest standards of patient safety and satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Quality and Accuracy:

• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times, upholds patient dignity and respects religious and cultural beliefs.
• Prioritizes and maintains own workload including organizing the daily scheduling of the machines.
• Reviews workflow processes pertinent to the area of work and recommends and implements changes to ensure efficient and smooth running of the machine.
• Creates and supports an environment which fosters teamwork, cooperation and respect for cultural diversity.
• Coordinates and completes tasks within all areas of the Radiotherapy Department pertinent to their scope of work on time.
• Accountable for the use of patients and hospital resources.
• Attends daily radiotherapy meetings.
• Performs additional duties when required.
• Confirms the identity of the patient, images and clinical records. Including carrying out patient safety checks before delivering radiation doses such as allergy and pregnancy status.
• Acquires images, data and reference material for radiotherapy processes in CT and on treatment verification and can review the suitability and quality of these images.
• Ensures patient preparation (bowel, prep, bladder prep, anal markers, markers for painful sites, etc) has been done and is relevant to the area being scanned and treated, by referring to local protocols.
• Confirms the location of the region of interest to be scanned.
• Selects all equipment parameters required for image acquisition and check compliance with procedure.
• Selects appropriate immobilization devices for the area to be treated, including able to make masks for Head and neck treatments.
• Positions the patient on the CT scanner by adjusting their clothes in accordance to the area being scanned to allow optimal outcomes and prevent the appearance of artefacts, whilst ensuring the patient’s dignity comfort and self-respect are maintained at all times.
• Marks reference points for further imaging and treatment on the patient’s body/immobilization/positioning devices.
• Conducts mould room work such as making electron cut-outs and bolus, taking into account safe working practices.
• Supports and monitors the patient throughout all procedures. This involves observing the patient, equipment and the room to detect any untoward events which may affect patient safety and impact the safe delivery of radiation dose.
• Recognizes and assesses treatment discrepancies and takes appropriate actions to determine whether treatment can proceed or further action is required.
• Assesses patients for side effects and refers them to other multi-disciplinary teams (MDT).
• Reviews any deviations from the protocol and take appropriate action.
• Checks all machine parameters, settings, monitoring and measuring devices used on the machines for function and accuracy of setting before treatment is delivered.
• Delivers the dose according to the treatment plan.
• Maintains Quality Assurance (QA) procedures for treatment plans – such as weekly chart checks, morning QA procedures, treatment reviewed and treatment approval checks.
• Maintains an up-to-date record of machine and equipment fault logs. This includes reporting to relevant authorities about any out-of-tolerance measurements.
• Adapts and implements new treatment techniques.
• Recognizes situations where you need to seek advice/support from appropriate sources and respond appropriately (e.g. where the competency required exceeds your personal level of competence or where there is reason for concern about the patient’s suitability for the prescribed treatment).
• Makes a final critical evaluation of the environment and patient before delivery of a radiation dose.

Quantity and Organizational Skills:

• Locates and provides accurate permanent record of the radiotherapy treatment given.
• Collates relevant patient data and patient treatment-related data and checks for validity, consistency and completeness.
• Checks the validity and relevance of the treatment prescription against defined departmental protocols. This includes paying particular attention to dose-related elements such as those that appear to be outside normal values.
• Transfers data according to departmental protocols (e.g. able to record all relevant CT information in ARIA).
• Uses ARIA to generate reports that are already built-in into the system.
• Demonstrates awareness of hospital policies regarding maintaining confidential records.
• Adheres to departmental and hospital policies and procedures.
• Makes suggestions/implements process improvements in daily work.
• Participates in the implementation of any new radiotherapy techniques for service development.
• Participates in the implementation and improvement of the department’s Quality System by assisting in reviewing and evaluating departmental policies and procedures.
• Responds to incidents and errors by following hospital incident reporting policies.
• Participates and supports clinical research and audits to enhance service improvement.
• Uses evidence-based practice (EBP) to inform your practice.
• Complies with health and safety procedures, including infection control.
• Identifies and manages potential and actual risks to the quality and safety of practice. This also includes maintaining a safe working environment, by ensuring all areas are safe and clean to use.
• Checks all personnel apart from the patient are out of the treatment/scanning room before delivering a radiation dose.
• Completes ARIA competency log.
• Uses Hospital Information Systems (HIS) such as Cerner to pull relevant data needed in ARIA.
• Uses of the Activity Capture module of ARIA to capture Radiotherapy Activities for billing purposes.
• Ensures continuous professional development (CPD) is continued by keeping abreast with the latest advancements in the radiotherapy field. This includes attending conferences and seminars.
• Plays an active role in the training and development of other staff members such as reception staff and participates in new staff induction by acting as a mentor.
• Participates in raising the profile of the radiotherapy profession in the UAE. This includes participating in hospital marketing strategies to promote the radiotherapy department such as participating in open days for American Hospital Dubai's staff and members of the public.
• Attends manufacturer training courses as required to meet departmental needs.
• Attends all mandatory hospital training programs and completes assigned SWANK courses
• Evaluates and reflects on the quality of your work and make continuing improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Radiation Therapy/Radiotherapy
• Master’s Degree in Enhanced Oncology and Radiotherapy preferred
• Current/Valid Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a Senior Radiation Therapist.
• Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of other institutions' radiotherapy policies and procedures delivering similar services.
• Knowledge of radiation safety and safe handling of radiation sources and radiation equipment.
• Skills in the Linear accelerator, High Dose Rate (HDR) machine, Computed Tomography (CT) simulator, patient schedule, equipment maintenance, the report of equipment failures, and daily quality assessment (QA).
• Skills in all relevant aspects of ARIA in a paperless environment, including the ability to use Carepath templates to schedule Radiotherapy activities.
• Skills in Interpersonal and Work Ethics – courteous, punctual, honest, reliable, well-groomed personal appearance, self-motivated, effective team player and communicator and good work ethic.
• Ability to demonstrate good practice as an individual and as a team member at all times. This includes being resourceful and able to work under pressure.
• Ability to investigate and problem-solve patient clinical issues, including critical thinking skills.
• Ability to have excellent hand-eye coordination, to include physically capable of handling equipment.
• Ability to empathise with the needs of the patient through good communication, patient daily assessment, patient monitoring and patient care.
• Ability to speak and write in English fluently.