Medical Physicist

Medical Physicist

A Place Unlike Any Other, Home Away From Home…

Monuments and memorials, eclectic neighborhoods, true local flavor – Washington, DC is a place unlike any other. It's your home away from home with free museums and America's front yard. Washington, DC, the U.S. capital, is a compact city on the Potomac River, bordering the states of Maryland and Virginia. It's defined by imposing neoclassical monuments and buildings - including the iconic ones that house the federal government's 3 branches: the Capitol, White House and Supreme Court. It's also home to iconic museums and performing-arts venues such as the Kennedy Center.

Washington DC VA Medical Center 50 Irving St. Northwest Washington, DC 20422 Southern Prince George's County CBOC 5801 Allentown Road Camp Springs, MD 20746

Position Overview (Duties Include But Are Not Limited To)

• Be required to conduct an annual compliance survey of all radiation producing equipment here at the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DC VA MC) with the skin entrance sticker where applicable. The most current list of the aforementioned equipment can be found in Section V of this statement of work.
• Conduct radiation compliance testing after all repairs affecting the imaging chain (generator, X-ray tube, collimator, image receptor) of a unit or any other modification that makes re-testing necessary. These compliance tests may need to be performed on an urgent basis which may include weekends to assure that the device operates within compliance.
• Provide compliance reports that include measurements obtained to determine compliance, indicate whether the tested parameter passed or failed, and recommend corrective action for a failed test.
• Provide analyses of the current and possible future quality assurance programs through the use of audits, reports and tests and recommend improvements for implementation.
• Participate in the quarterly review/ optimization of computed tomography, digital radiography, computed radiography, and fluoroscopy protocols as well as reviews of patient and personnel exposure records.
• Support new and or ongoing installations of radiation producing equipment. This includes providing consultation/ direction as applicable and necessary regarding site prep, room design, and shielding requirements. He/she shall oversee shielding installations and verify that the installed shielding is acceptable. He/she shall make shielding calculations and evaluations for the facility as needed. As needed, he/she will participate in pre-purchase evaluations and acceptance testing.
• Assure compliance with the Joint Commission Sentinel Alert 47 and will design and analyze patient dose evaluations/ dose reconstructions annually and as requested by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). These reviews shall be conducted in accordance to industry recognized standards and best practices.
• Conduct Quality Assurance (QA) reviews at least annually, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, mammography, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, linear accelerator and other x-ray producing imaging equipment. The report shall document whether the program is complaint with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) reports (TG 66 and TG 142), manufacturer's specifications and ACR guidance such as the "Technical Standards for Diagnostic Medical Physics Performance Monitoring of CT Equipment". Reports shall include a detailed listing of QA parameters reviewed, indication of whether the tested parameter passed or failed, and recommendations for corrective action for a failed test.
• Attend quarterly meetings of the Radiation Safety Committee and Sub-committees and will periodically brief executive leadership on program status.
• Conduct an analysis of staff-submitted fluoroscopy procedure times for identifying high risk procedures.
• Advise the hospital's Occupational Dose Program and generate detailed reports as it relates to the program.
• Provide at least one (1) radiation safety and patient dose reduction in-service per year to the clinical staff, who use radiation producing equipment.
• Assist the Chief of Radiology in completing physician fluoroscopy credentialing. Fluoroscopy safety training shall be conducted at least biannually prior to recertification/re-credentialing for fluoroscopy privileges.
• Provide business hours phone consultation as needed.
• Provide emergency response/on call as needed.
• Perform work that meets all National, State, and VA codes, requirements, and standards to include, but not be limited to, The Joint Commission, The Office of the Inspector General, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the National Health Physics Program, and the American College of Radiology.
• Respond to survey new or malfunctioning equipment and emergency consultation within one business day of the request.

Qualifications

• Must be an American Board of Radiology (ABR) certified Medical Physicist.