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Senior Medical Physicist

Employer:
 Salem Hospital
Job Location: Salem , OR
Cash Compensation:
Job Description: Duties and Responsibility:

Treatment Planning and Dosimetry

· Provide treatment plans for patient undergoing radiotherapy in accordance with department procedures.
· Execute the quality assurance for the treatment planning systems, dosimetry on linear accelerators, tomotherapy, ortho-voltage treatment machines.
· Maintain and develop the independent checking program for monitor unit calculations, provide manual calculations for radiotherapy treatment when required.
· Maintain the patient database and system backups.
· Maintain an in-depth knowledge of treatment planning procedures, new treatment techniques and keep abreast of developments in modern treatment planning.
· Carry out the quality assurance and dosimetry measurements for individual treatments as required; provide in-vivo measurement systems in the department.
· Maintain records of all measurements and dosimetry calculations.


Radiotherapy Equipment and Technologies
· Execute quality assurance checks on all radiotherapy equipment in accordance with department procedures.
· Calibrate radiotherapy equipment and dosimeters in a manner suitable for accurate radiation dose delivery.
· Have an in-depth knowledge of the quality assurance procedures and policies used in the department. Develop and review department policies and procedures related to radiation safety and radiation oncology physics.
· Assist in the maintenance of quality assurance records, development of database for the maintenance of quality assurance records.
· Participate in the commissioning and acceptance testing of new radiotherapy equipment and treatment devices.
· Design and construction of patient treatment aids or special devices
· Direct the determination of radiation dose distributions in patients undergoing treatment, i.e. critical structures or fetal doses using computerized dosimetry calculations or direct radiation measurements.
· Consult with the radiation oncologists to implement improvements in patient doses and optimization of patient treatment plans, technical evaluation and the most effective means of treatment delivery techniques.
· Evaluate new technologies, direct and participate in the development and implementation of new radiotherapy techniques (IMRT, SRS, SBRT)
· Establish, develop, and monitor procedures for measuring the performance levels of imaging equipment used in radiation oncology.
· Be able to solve new and unique technical problems as they arise, particularly as they related to the radiological sciences.
· Serve as focal point for machine maintenance and repair.
· Participate in the development and maintaining of the information network within the department.

Brachytherapy

· Maintain the Hospital License to use radioactive materials and maintain HDR license to practice with HDR equipment and procedures.
· Prepare treatment plans for patients undergoing brachytherapy in accordance with department procedures.
· Calibrate, prepare, and maintain sources for use in brachytherapy.
· Execute quality assurance checks on the HDR remote afterload equipment, HDR treatment planning system, and HDR treatment accessories.
· Direct and participate in the development and introduction of new brachytherapy techniques.

Radiation Safety
· Direct the radiation safety program for the radiation oncology department and provide consultation for personnel radiation exposure.
· Manage the medical physics service in a manner to meet or exceed established standards of practice consistence with the facility size and available resources.
· Design and implement pertinent aspects of the quality management program that involve the use of external beam radiotherapy equipment and therapeutic radioisotopes.
· Execute radiation shielding calculations for rooms where new radiology equipment is to be installed.
· Maintain proper records necessary for JCAHO, NRC, state, or other regulatory agencies.
· Serve as a member of various committees such as the Radiation Safety Committee, Cancer Committee, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee, and the Hospital Safety Committee.

General
· Directs the Radiation Oncology physics program, which includes the technical direction of physicists, medical dosimetrists, radiation therapists, therapy equipment service engineers, and other physics support staff personnel. Reports directly to the administrative manager, administrative and medical director of cancer services.
· Provide continuing education lectures to Radiation Oncology staff and associated allied health personnel.
· Familiar with Current Procedures Terminology (CPT) codes and the reimbursements for the services that provided by physicists and the supporting staffs.
· Participate in equipment planning and evaluation including preparation in writing equipment performance specifications.
· Participate in department program planning, marketing, personnel planning, and budget preparation.
· Participate in planning for future radiology and radiation oncology facilities.
· Research and development of new devices and modalities for improved diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radiation.
· Attend administrative management and staff meetings.
· Report on progress and projects to the Manager of Radiation Oncology.

Salem Health is seeking candidates who demonstrate the following talents, as defined by the Gallup Organization.

Core Talents:
Service: A drive to be of service to others.
Ethics: A clear understanding of right and wrong which guides your actions.
Responsibility: A need to assume personal accountability for your work.
Problem Solving: An ability to think things though with incomplete data.
Empathy: An ability to identify the feelings and perspectives of others.
Team: A need to build feelings of mutual support.
Special Skills, Knowledge or Abilities:
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to solve technical problems promptly and communicate solutions to Medical and department staff.

Minimum Qualifications:
The Senior Medical Physicist shall have a M.Sc. or higher degree in physics, medical physics, or other relevant field.
Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience as a physicist in a hospital, clinic, or medical school required.
Board certification in therapeutic physics highly preferred.
Qualified applicant to sit for boards will be considered.
An Oregon license may be required per state regulation.

Additional Information:
In order to be considered for this position, your resume must reflect all relevant licenses, certifications, education, and experience noted in the requirements and minimum qualification sections of this job posting. Without this information, candidates cannot be considered for positions to which they may be qualified.

 
Company Description: Our Hospital is one of the largest of Oregon's 57 acute care hospitals, and we are the city's largest private employer, with approximately 3,500 full and part-time employees. We are completing a major facility addition by spring of 2009; our large, expanding campus allows Salem Hospital to offer a wide range of the latest medical technologies and services in and around Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

We are currently seeking a team oriented Senior Medical Physicist to help support our growing Oncology program through the Salem Cancer Institute, a part of Salem Health in affiliation with OHSU Cancer Institute. The Salem Hospital Cancer Center is one of the largest full service cancer programs in the Northwest, and is the largest in the mid-Willamette Valley. With ten cancer specialists, state-of-the-art equipment and a highly trained technical and nursing staff, the hospital offers a full range of cancer services including diagnosis, education, research, and treatment. Our department offers the most current technology featuring Tomotherapy, which was installed in September 2007. We have CT simulation and 2 Varian 2100 Clinac EX accelerators with MLC’s, Portal Vision, and Varis R&V. Among the services we offer are IMRT, Mammosite, HDR and Superficial treatment. Additionally, the Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest accreditation available to non-teaching institutions.