Senior Imaging Physicist - Radiology Physics (Medical Center)

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Imaging Physicist position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the activities and uses of staff, equipment, and supplies to meet the imaging needs of the organization. By administering the Quality Assurance program in Medical Imaging or Radiation Oncology, this position assists the department in the design, documentation, implementation and evaluation of procedures that ensure proper equipment usage. The Senior Imaging Physicist position provides medical physics consultation for and the clinical support of Imaging Physicist supporting regulatory compliance and highest quality patient imaging for the system

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in Imaging Physics or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Five years experience in Radiation Physics and/or Medical Physics

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• MPHYS - Medical Physicists - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV

Preferred

• ABR-DMP - Diagnostic Medical Physics (ABR) or
• ABR-NMP - Nuclear Medical Physics (ABR) or
• ABSNM-NMPI - Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty (ABSNM) or
• MQSA qualified physicist including digital mammography and mammographic tomosynthesis

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Solid written and verbal communication skills; computer skills
• Ability to work as a team player; and be self-motivated
• Able to foster good working relationships with all departments system wide

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads a positive work environment and team to be a dynamic, focused work area that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Establishes and maintains professional relationships, trust and credibility with all on the healthcare team, serving as primary point of contact for routine matters with physicians, assisting management with daily operations as assigned.
• Coordinates with imaging staff to minimize impact of patient throughput while performing required equipment testing compliance. Acts as a point of contact to implement corrections of physician image quality concerns.
• Serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to other imaging physicists, helping to advance their professional practice, providing guidance with project development, implementation, evaluation, research. Role models accountability for improvement of department score for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates scheduling among all physicists to ensure proper system-wide coverage is maintained.
• Creates an environment of personalized service that encourages technicians and physicians to improve the imaging program as a whole. Serves as subject matter expert and resource to coworkers in teaching best practices and education.
• Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources. Drives improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through role modeling accountability of service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures self and other staff are acting appropriately to minimize their own and co-worker's exposures as little as reasonable. Provides expertise to all hospital staff regarding radiation exposure.
• Establishes and/or audits quality and maintenance programs related to all imaging equipment. Partners with imaging staff to ensure image quality assurance is routinely and appropriately performed. Maintains paperwork and performs appropriate equipment surveys to demonstrate compliance with state and accrediting agency standards. Coordinates with various imaging departments to obtain accreditation on imaging equipment.
• Continually evaluates QA and equipment evaluation program elements to assess possible improvements or improvements necessary due to equipment changes. Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action, leads process improvement providing recommendations, and contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety.
• Oversees the workflow, caseload and patient processes and treatments, ensuring quality outcomes and the safety of the patient, adjusting activities as applicable. Coordinates activities, as requested, for the department.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides equipment recommendations and evaluations of value and performance on possible equipment purchases.
• Uses resources efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks for self and area(s) of responsibility/assigned team members to meet the labor productivity standards.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Partners with departments to implement required and best practice QA imaging procedures in a manner that is not too onerous on staff.
• Demonstrates professional growth through networking, and attendance at professional society meetings to maintain familiarity with new equipment and new techniques.
• Initiates opportunities to identify self-development needs and expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as an Imaging Physicist, taking appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in Imaging Physics or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Five years experience in Radiation Physics and/or Medical Physics

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• MPHYS - Medical Physicists - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV

Preferred

• ABR-DMP - Diagnostic Medical Physics (ABR) or
• ABR-NMP - Nuclear Medical Physics (ABR) or
• ABSNM-NMPI - Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty (ABSNM) or
• MQSA qualified physicist including digital mammography and mammographic tomosynthesis