Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist in Orlando, Florida
Summary Employees at this level serve as advanced staff TRTs independently carrying out procedures which have varying assignments. Employee will be assigned the responsibility of emergency on-call treatments, if applicable, and perform simple Monitor Unit calculations; 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. Responsibilities THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE ORLANDO VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (FACILITY-WIDE) ONLY. Applications from outside the Area of Consideration (Orlando VA Facility) will not be considered or referred. Employees at this level who are not leads or supervisors are able to carry out their assigned tasks independently in all areas of radiation therapy, requiring TRT competencies which substantially exceed the full performance level and are unique and require advanced knowledge in all areas of radiation therapy specialties. 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 grade level.Duties: Operate equipment in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to preform warm-up procedures and treatment operations on Varian linear accelerators, including 3D, IMRT Rapid Arc, IGRT, electron therapy, and all complex radiation treatment procedures (i.e., SBRT, SBRT w/ compression belt, SRS, prone breast treatment) and routinely perform without guidance or assistance from supervisor or peers. This includes multi-leaf collimation, portal vision operations, and OBI on-board imager. Full implementation of patient and staff safety precautions, hospital patient identification policy and treatment verification procedures. Identifies individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy and departmental procedures before assisting in simulation and each daily radiation treatment is delivered. Verifies patient consent prior to assisting in CT simulation. 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. Knowledge of basic nursing procedures, examination preparation and contraindications. Communicates information with others in a timely, informative, and accurate manner in accordance with departmental policies. Functions as an effective team member through active participation while working towards team objectives and assisting the group effort whenever and wherever possible. Completes all mandatory VA training within the designated time frame. Knowledgeable of applicable accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission, ACR, etc.) and applies the standards in compliance with VA hospital policies and radiation oncology guidelines as established by the program. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pmCompressed/Flexible: Not AvailableTelework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD82065F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. May be requiured to pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE ORLANDO VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (FACILITY-WIDE) ONLY. Applications from outside the Area of Consideration (Orlando VA Facility) will not be considered or referred. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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). English Language Proficiency. TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. ยง 7403(f) Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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, 4 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. Grade determination for GS-10: must have at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level directly related to Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist that demonstrates the following technical competencies as described at the GS-9 level: (a) Skill in independently setting up the patient in preparation for basic and complex radiation treatments on a linear accelerator, as prescribed by the radiation oncologist; (b) Skill in independently performing machine warm-up procedures to interpret output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance; (c) Skill to independently perform patient chart reviews and effectively document records utilizing an electronic medical records system and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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. *Note: Please ensure how you meet these KSAs is clearly described in your resume; we may not make assumptions regarding your experience. Preferred Experience:Graduate of an accredited program, by the Joint Review Committee in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), in therapeutic radiologic technology, evident by certificate or degree. Active ARRT license. BLS certification. 5 year experience as a Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G26 Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist Qualification Standard GS-0648 VHA. The full performance level of this vacancy is 10. Definitions. Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAs), also referred to as core competencies associated with current therapeutic radiologic technology practices. Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a TRT is creditable according to its relationship to full-time workweek. For example, a TRT would receive one week of full-time credit for each two weeks of half-time work. Quality of Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is post-certification (as noted in paragraph 3c) experience as a TRT directly related to the position being filled. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to TRT experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Experience as a graduate TRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a TRT and subsequently passed the certification examination. TRT Professional Definitions: Specialized areas of therapeutic radiologic technology include basic and complex therapeutic treatment delivery, simulation, advanced treatment delivery modalities and mold room. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.