Technical Standards

RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Radiation Therapists deliver care to the patient in the therapeutic setting and are responsible for the simulation and administration of a prescribed course of radiation therapy. This is done with the knowledge and skills to accurately administer high-energy radiation for therapeutic purposes. Radiation Therapists assume direct responsibility for the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following simulation and the delivery of daily treatment.

Students must meet all technical standards and have the ability to demonstrate competency/perform all procedures independently, consistently, and effectively, with or without accommodation.

In keeping with its mission and goals, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the program promotes an environment of respect and support for persons with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations for students. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a student/applicant with a documented disability must submit a written request for reasonable accommodation. Accommodations that compromise patient care, or that fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, are not considered to be reasonable. 

General Tasks

  • Retrieve and dispatch patients within the department
  • Verify patient identification and information prior to performing tasks
  • Assist with fabrication of immobilization and beam modification devices
  • Assist with simulation procedures and collection of necessary treatment planning data
  • Assist with patient positioning, imaging and treatment delivery
  • Assist with data input, management and retrieval within the electronic medical record
  • Assist with patient education and assessment
  • Provide for the patient’s physical safety and well-being while in the department
  • Assist with equipment quality assurance procedures
  • Receive and schedule patients; file and assist with clerical work
  • Provide basic life support services, when needed
  • Secure and assist with advanced life support services, where indicated

Communication Abilities & Personal Characteristics

  • Possess communication ability sufficient for interaction with patients, family, faculty, staff, physicians and other healthcare professionals in completion of tasks in both verbal and written form
  • Possess ability to read and comprehend technical and professional materials and to follow oral and written instruction
  • Possess ability to clearly and concisely convey instructions and assess comprehension
  • Possess ability to recognize and respond appropriately to non-verbal cues
  • Possess interpersonal ability sufficient to interact effectively and sensitively with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of socioeconomic, cultural, emotional, racial, religious, and intellectual backgrounds
  • Possess ability to establish rapport with patients, families and healthcare professionals
  • Be honest, ethical, responsible, and forthright about errors or uncertainty
  • Understand and apply departmental and nationally recognized rules and regulations for patient privacy, safety and radiation protection

Mental & Emotional Abilities

  • Demonstrate critical thinking sufficient for sound judgment, sufficient problem solving skills to perform duties in a timely manner
  • Organize and prioritize responsibilities
  • Identify cause-effect relationships and make decisions
  • Manage time and systemize actions to complete tasks
  • Collect, organize, and analyze data and images
  • Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situations and proceed safely
  • Adapt to working with unpleasant odors
  • Demonstrate mental stamina working under stressful and emotional conditions
  • Demonstrate emotional stability, maturity, gentleness, empathy, and compassion

Physical Abilities

  • Physical ability sufficient to endure 8-10 hours of walking and standing on your feet, routinely walk, bend, push, pull, lift, stoop, kneel, squat, balance and maneuver in small places; maneuver heavy equipment; lift 20 pounds over your head; lift, carry and balance items weighing up to 50 pounds individually or additional weight with assistance, possess a full range of body motion; coordination and muscular control, ability to reach and operate overhead equipment
  • Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to safely manipulate and operate equipment and computer keyboards, fabricate immobilization and beam modification devices
  • Visual acuity sufficient to work in dim lighting and distinguish colors, ability to monitor patients via closed circuit camera, ability to view computer monitors for extended periods
  • Hearing sufficient to adequately perceive and interpret audio signals from equipment and alarms, perceive and respond to instructions without distraction or hesitation in a noisy work environment, perceive and respond to patient questions or comments face-to-face or via intercom
  • Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment, to observe and monitor patient responses, to perform palpation functions, to perform therapeutic interventions, to manipulate and position patients, and to interact in clinical, lab, and classroom environments
  • Olfactory senses sufficient to smell or detect smoke, chemicals, and electrical hazards