The James J. Peters VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for ONE INTERMITTENT Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist for the Radiation Oncology service. Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments. This includes basic and advanced treatment modalities and procedures. Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on-call treatments, if applicable, and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: United States Citizenship Education: Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75. They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED, and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T). Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T)). Loss of Certification. Once certified, a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. (4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: Each uncertified TRT permanently employed on June 21, 1986, and whose competence in the safe administration of ionizing radiation was affirmed, in writing, by a VA licensed physician not later than January 1, 1987, is considered fully qualified. These employees may be promoted, up to and including the journey level, demoted or reassigned within the GS-0648 occupational series. Any employee initially retained in this manner who leaves this job series loses protected status and must meet the full requirements in effect at the time of reentry. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency: TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10 Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments. This includes basic and advanced treatment modalities and procedures, which exceed the full performance level. Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on-call treatments, if applicable, and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations. Other assignments include but, are not limited to performing CT simulations, troubleshooting for basic problems and machine issues, maintaining treatment rooms and equipment in a clean, neat and safe condition and assisting patients to and from the treatment room. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform at this level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all the KSAs below: (a) Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance. (b) Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems. (c) Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations, including independently operating the CT equipment, following directives, designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups, obtaining optimal imaging, completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation. (d) Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images. References: VA Handbook 5005/137 Part II Appendix G26, January 15, 2021 The full performance level of this occupational series is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10. ["Schedules treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases. This requires the ability to prioritize scheduled patients as well as the ability to accommodate the emergency patient who may need immediate simulation and treatment. Performs quality control of the treatment machines by taking recorded readings every morning prior to patient treatments using the dosimetry verification and record system for each energy level. Obtaining weekly machine check for rotational therapy and electronic dynamic wedge\nverification. Identifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy before simulation or radiation treatment is delivered. Verifies patient consent and treatment area. Prepares contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations. Insures proper use or administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient mortality, therefore it is essential that the therapist has a thorough understanding of contrast material usage. Must be alert to patient's condition and other disorders. Reactions on the part of the patient require immediate attention so that harm does not come to the patient. Properly operates CT simulator, provides reproducible patient treatment position sets-ups that can be accurately used for daily treatments on the Linear Accelerator. Provides custom patient immobilization devices as requested. Provides set up DDR's with the Voxel-Q after the CT scan was acquired and isocenter or reference point was obtained. Indicates on patient's skin with tattoos and or markings necessary needed to locate treatment area. Fabricates and verifies shielding blocks made from cerrobend and used during radiation treatments. Performs simulation verification before prescribed treatment. Accurately reproduces initial simulation set-up, with proper patient positioning, immobilizing devices, to ensure proper alignment and quality treatment. Obtains isocenter verification, treatment field verification of conformal blocking, with multi-leaf collimator, or cerrobend shielding. Utilizes electronic and radiation treatment chart for set-up instructions, field size, field shaping, SSD, field compensator and beam restrictions. Employs any necessary accessory beam restriction devices, i.e., wedges, bolus, collimator angles, or cerrobend blocks for fields to be treated. Verifies correct multi-leaf collimation and electronic dynamic wedges. Delivers prescribed mode of treatment in accordance with prescribed radiation prescription. This may include conventional, 3-D conformal, electron delivery, IMRT treatment delivery, IGRT delivery, or brachytherapy procedures. Maintains patient records and files. Follows HIPPA guidelines regarding patient information. Routinely takes port/verification films for patients under radiation treatment, to maintain record of treatment accuracy in accordance to departmental procedures, verifies any changes in accordance with the physicians request. Promptly records in patient's treatment chart any change in treatment, i.e., change in patient's SSD reading, change in field measurements, adjustments to position of treatment field, or patient's treatment status if not treated, in order to make corrections in the treatment calendar, calculations or prescription if needed. Practices radiation safety in order to reduce exposure to patients, staff, and self, in compliance with department and VA radiation safety procedures to maintain occupational exposures \"as low as reasonable achievable\" (ALARA). Reports all environmental and/or equipment issues by the use of the computerized work order system reporting any and all adverse issues to the Bio-Med department. Performs irregular hour emergency treatments on standby, 24 hours per day coverage, with availability within 2 hours from receipt of call so that proper and effective emergency care can be given to the patient. Works with Radiation Oncologists, Dosimetrists, Department Nurse, and Clerical staff, as a member of the radiation therapy team to effectively and efficiently accomplish the goals of the radiation therapy team. Participates in reviewing, revising or authoring policies and procedures as needed. Participates in the planning, direction, and distribution on work assignments of the lower grade level therapeutic radiologic technologist. Participates in QA (quality assurance) activities to include and provide data collection, data analysis and trends and reports on changes based on data collection. Accurately transfers radiographic images to treatment planning and dosimetry for use in development of computer generated treatment plans. Work Schedule: Intermittent\nTelework: Not Available\nFunctional Statement #: 25399F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]