Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist Registrar Royal Adelaide Hospital

JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Title of Position: Administrative Unit:

Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist Registrar Royal Adelaide Hospital

Classification Code: MeS1 Division: RAH Cancer Centre

Discipline Code: Branch:

Section: Medical Physics

Type of Appointment: 3 year term Position Number:

Position Created:

Job and Person Specification Approval

All excluding senior positions

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CEO or delegate Commissioner for Public Employment

JOB SPECIFICATION

1. Preamble______

Royal Adelaide Hospital is committed to the achievement of best practice in the design and delivery of services to its patients. This involves the pursuit of quality improvement and innovation in every aspect of its operation.

Organisationally it requires structures and processes that:

·  achieve devolution of authority and responsibility as near as practicable to the point of service delivery,

·  establish clear lines of accountability and open the organisation to external scrutiny,

·  facilitate and promote a team approach on the part of staff to facilitate optimal service outcomes and greater patient satisfaction,

·  provide the opportunity for staff and customers to participate in the on-going evaluation of organisational performance and the determination of future directions,

In the provision of clinical services it requires that such services are:

·  based on evidence based practice,

·  benchmarked for best practice,

·  provided within a safety culture,

·  provided in a manner that is patient focussed.

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2. Summary of the broad purpose of the position in relation to the organisation's goals (its expected outcome and how it is achieved).

In a training capacity contributes to the provision of a Medical Physics service within the objectives and philosophies of Royal Adelaide Hospital with a commitment to inpatient and ambulatory care, research, education and teaching.

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3. Reporting/Working Relationships (to whom the person reports, staff for whom the person is responsible, and other significant connections and working relationships within the organisation).

Responsible to the Chief Medical Physicist and Director of Radiation Oncology and reports to Supervisor/s of Training in matters relating to professional development.

4. Special Conditions (such as non-metropolitan location, travel requirements, frequent overtime, etc.).

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Some out of hours work may be required for equipment calibrations.

Must be prepared to attend relevant meetings and staff development/education activities as required.

Intra and interstate travel may be required.

Must be prepared to participate in staff appraisal process

May be required to transfer within the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service.

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5. Statement of Key Outcomes and Associated Activities. (Group into major areas of responsibility/activity and list in descending order of importance.

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Contribute to the provision of a reliable, efficient medical physics service by:

·  Participating in the performance of routine and complex tests in designated areas.

·  Participating in quality control programs and under direction implementing appropriate corrective action.

·  Participating in the development and evaluation of new methods and equipment.

·  Participating in after hours services in equipment calibrations and specialist treatments.

·  Providing appropriate interpretative comments for test results.

·  Undertaking collection of patient dosimetry data.

·  Participating in clinical services including external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and unsealed source therapy.

Contribute toward the provision of safe and healthy work environment for self and others by:

·  Reporting all accidents, incidents and near misses;

·  Complying with reasonable instruction or procedures aimed at protecting the health and safety of themselves and others;

·  Carrying out responsibilities as detailed in occupational health, safety and injury management policies and procedures.

Contribute professional and scientific expertise to the section by:

·  Undertaking designated tasks.

·  Meeting documentation and record keeping requirements, within designated areas.

·  Maintaining skills to be able to participate in both routine and complex physics tests.

·  Participating in professional development activities to be informed about current developments in teletherapy, brachytherapy, radiation protection, radiation dosimetry and oncological treatment techniques.

·  Participating in the selection and adoption of methods and processes associated with test development and equipment evaluation.

Contribute to the maintenance of a healthy, safe and equitable working environment by:

·  Maintaining knowledge of and adhering to the principles and standards of Equal Employment Opportunity Legislation which ensures all employees in the workplace are treated in a fair and equitable manner, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment.

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Acknowledged by Occupant…………………………………………… ………/…/………

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION______

A graduate qualification in Physics.

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PERSONAL ABILITIES/APTITUDE/SKILLS:______

Hold, or be eligible to qualify for a South Australian license to perform, under supervision, calibration, beam data acquisition and quality assurance procedures on megavoltage radiotherapy equipment.

Hold or be eligible to qualify for a South Australian license to use or handle sealed radioactive sources and unsealed radioactive substances for purposes associated with medical physics.

Strong experimental skills.

Ability to identify and plan activities to meet day to day goals and work flows.

Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of hospital staff, suppliers and service agents.

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EXPERIENCE:

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Experience in radiation physics.

Experience in physics computing.

Experience in radiation protection techniques.

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KNOWLEDGE: ______

Knowledge of the fundamental of medical physics, quality assurance and radiation protection principles and techniques as applied to radiation therapy.

Knowledge of the relevant Australian and International Standards and Codes.

DESIRABLE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION______

A postgraduate qualification in Medical Physics or equivalent.

Advanced training in computing and electronics.

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PERSONAL ABILITIES/APTITUDE/SKILLS:______

Demonstrable level of productivity and efficiency.

Ability to contribute to the preparation of written equipment specifications and equipment evaluations.

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EXPERIENCE:______

Experience in medical physics as applied to teletherapy, brachytherapy, radiation protection, radiation dosimetry and oncological treatment techniques.

Experience in the specification, acquisition and commissioning of equipment.

Experience in the development of enhancements to equipment performance and utility.

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KNOWLEDGE:

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Knowledge of current planning algorithm principles.

Knowledge of linear accelerator operating principles.

Knowledge of computer hardware systems and operating software.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND DUTIES

The medical physics registrar (radiation oncology physics graduate trainee,) is responsible for his/her work to the Chief Medical Physicist. Daily work shall be carried out under supervision of one of the more senior medical physicists responsible for sections of the radiation oncology physics work.

(i) Conditions of Appointment

·  Appointment is based on competitive selection for the positions available and on satisfactory work performance.

·  The appointment is a radiation oncology medical physics training position. The medical physics registrar must participate in the department's training program and carry out tasks required to successfully complete the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) accreditation program in Radiation Oncology Medical Physics.

·  The medical physics registrar must demonstrate progress in the ACPSEM training program to the satisfaction of the Chief Medical Physicist. The training program requires postgraduate studies at an accredited university for the medical physics course work and clinical training at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

·  The clinical medical physics training may require the medical physics registrar to attend and work in other hospital departments (such as Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Surgery, etc) and other SA accredited radiation oncology centres.

·  The medical physics registrar must undertake research and study in accordance with the ACPSEM training program.

·  The Medical Physics Registrar must undertake research and study in accordance with the ACPSEM Training Program.

(ii) Criteria for the On-going Assessment of the Successful Applicant

·  Participation in the hospital's education and clinical training programs for medical physics registrars.

·  Appropriate enrolment and performance in a post-graduate medical physics degree at an ACPSEM accredited university (if applicable).

·  Satisfactory completion of examinations and other assessments assigned as part of the postgraduate course and clinical in-house training programs.

·  Full payment of fees required for the university higher degree and the ACPSEM Training, Education & Accreditation Program (TEAP) necessary for participating in all the required components of the TEAP program.

·  Successful completion of TEAP to gain ACPSEM accreditation within the maximum period of 5 years (or subject to ACPSEM special conditions for an extended period beyond this time limit).

(iii) Departmental Duties

Duties of the medical physics registrar shall include:

·  Participate with the department's other medical physicists and the medical physics technical staff in the quality assurance test program for all radiation oncology treatment, ancillary and dosimetry equipment. This would include maintaining a network database record and other documentation. Equipment faults or functional problems detected during these test procedures shall be documented in the form of a log or departmental report, reported immediately to the appropriate senior medical physicist and rectification arranged as soon as practicable. Any equipment fault or functional problem that may be an unsafe condition must be immediately reported to the Chief Physicist or, in his absence, one of the senior medical physicists in radiation oncology.

·  Participate with other medical physicists, department technical service staff or externally contracted x-ray service personnel in work carried out during the maintenance or clinical recommissioning of the radiotherapy radiation apparatus.

·  Participate under the supervision of the Senior Clinical Medical Physicist in the radiation dosimetry service for radiotherapy planning, brachytherapy and for specified patient treatments. This includes documenting records of all dosimetry measurements in the designated log books and, where necessary, prepare a report on the results of the clinical measurements, treatment technique or methods of calculation. The results and other details must be checked and approved by a designated medical physicist before (i) the treatment of the patient and (ii) distributed as a medical physics report.

·  Prepare radiation dosimetry documentation for treatment planning. This includes checking the calculated treatment planning computer data for patient treatments. Any new or revised treatment planning data or documentation must be checked and approved by a designated medical physicist before the documentation is distributed for general departmental use.

·  Participate as required in the physics work necessary for the clinical brachytherapy treatments.

·  Assist in the development of protocols for the safe use of radiotherapy treatment machines and ancillary equipment used by other members of staff. In particular, participate in any work required to ensure that staff radiation safe practices are satisfactorily maintained.

·  Provide the clinical thermo luminescent dosimetry (TLD) service. This includes issuing a TLD report (after approval by a designated senior medical physicist) on the results to be recorded in the patient's notes.

·  Participate with other physicists in the physics acceptance testing and clinical dosimetry measurements necessary for new, refurbished or re-commissioned radiation oncology treatment apparatus.

·  Carry out a research and development program in medical physics applied to radiation oncology, as may be assigned or approved by the Chief Physicist.

·  Carry out other duties as requested by the Chief Medical Physicist.