DIRECTOR, PHYSICS (PhD)

  LOCATION:  Geisinger Medical Center Hospital, Danville, PA

 

Directs the Geisinger Health System Radiation Oncology Physics department and dosimetry departments. Responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the activities of Radiation Oncology physics and dosimetry services, across the system for effective and efficient operation. Responsible for Radiation Oncology compliance with directives, policies, and objectives of the Geisinger Health System. Responsible for compliance with governing documents and all the applicable laws and regulations.

 

Ensures regulatory compliance in radiation oncology operations throughout the Geisinger Health System through a program of auditing and oversight for all locations where radiation treatments are delivered and radiation sources are used. Maintains current inventories of applicable regulations, guidelines, licenses, and standards of practice, and all proposed change to same. Interfaces with regulatory agencies to achieve desired outcomes. Works collaboratively with the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), is an active member of the Radiation Safety Committee.

 

Provides and/or supervises the functioning and activities on matters including physics, dosimetry, calibration, treatment planning and safety equipment. Maintains equipment and regulatory records, and bills for services. Provides education to Radiation Oncology staff and meets the qualifications to provide care to patients in the specific age range on their assigned clinical area.

 

Performs duties to support the goals and objectives of Geisinger in its efforts to provide quality patient care and patient satisfaction.

 

LEADERSHIP DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Participation/Leadership:

A.     Responsible for the operation accountability for assigned areas

B.     Serves as department liaison with outside constituents and as an active participant in assigned management forums.

C.     Works with department medical director & physicians to develop, revise and audit all department policies and operational procedures.

D.    Travels to radiation oncology sites as necessary.

 

* Strategic Planning/Implementation:

A.     Participates in the development and implementation of strategic, tactical and business plans, marketing and public relations plans (i.e. budgets, facilities and capital analyses, market analyses, growth plans, operational contingency plans, information systems).

 

*Human Resources Management:

A.     Facilitates active engagement and communication with department staff via formal meetings and informal interactions.

B.     Handles all employee relations activities (i.e. coaching, counseling).

C.     Works with department managers in all performance management activities for non-physician (i.e. performance evaluations, compensation).

D.    Works with assigned HR consultant on recruitment activities. Maintains appropriate staffing levels and mix.

E.     Assesses staff and facilitates skill development for all personnel as needed.

F.     Utilizes staff in their highest capacity to facilitate innovations in care delivery in the clinic setting.

G.    Facilitates appropriate individual and staff performance recognition in an effort to maintain a positive and motivational work environment.

H.    Actively participates in resolving employee problems and conflicts as needed.

 

 PHYSICS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     Active member of the radiation safety committee and provides quarterly reports to the committee.

2.     Assists with coordination of equipment usage, selection and replacement as required.

3.     Prepares and updates physics/dosimetry policies and procedures as required.

4.     Bills for services rendered.

5.     Consults with the radiation oncologists on the physical and radiobiological aspects of the patients' treatments and the development of treatment plans.

6.     Acquires and stores data for treatment plans.

7.     Calculates dose distributions and machine settings for patient treatments.

8.     Assures the accuracy of treatment units and simulator parameters and settings used for patient treatments.

9.     Verifies the correct transfer of parameters between the simulator, treatment plan, and treatment unit; periodically reviews each patient's chart for accuracy and compliance with the radiation oncologist's prescription.

10.   Performs in vivo measurement to verify the dose delivered to the patient when requested by the radiation oncologist.

11.   Calibrates sources and maintains all information necessary for their appropriate use.

12.   Maintains all instrumentation required for calibration of sources. Measurement of radiation and calculation of doses.

13.   Assists in the development of techniques to improve the delivery of radiation treatment.

14.   Participates at chart rounds and other patient discussion conferences as required by the radiation oncologist.

15.   Provides continuing education to the Radiation Oncology staff.

16.   Helps to develop and maintain a quality assurance program for all treatment modalities, localization procedures, and computational equipment and programs to assure that patients receive prescribed doses and dose distribution with an acceptable degree of accuracy.

17.   Participates in development and assists with administration of a radiation safety program as required by the Radiation Safety Officer including compliance with all regulating and certifying agencies (e.g., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and appropriate state and local agencies).

18.   Monitors a personnel radiation monitoring program for Radiation Oncology as required.

19.   Prepares calculation and verifies shielding required for new or renovated treatment rooms.

20.   Provides performance specification, acceptance testing, and commissioning of new equipment.

21.   Develops and promotes interpersonal relations to enhance the achievement of departmental goals.

22.   Follows established departmental policies and procedures.

23.   Participates in resource allocation planning for equipment usage, selection, and replacement.

24.   Develops techniques to improve the delivery of radiation treatments.

25.   Maintains equipment and regulatory records, and ensures compliance with state and federal regulatory agencies.

26.   Performs other duties as required or assigned by emergency or other operational reasons for which the employee is qualified to perform.

 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Demonstrates leadership qualities including:

a)     Problem solving

b)    Promptness and thoroughness in accomplishing tasks

c)     Initiative and spontaneity in performance

d)    Cooperation and team work

e)     Demonstration of responsibility and accountability

 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Requires knowledge of radiation therapy physics as well as regulatory and accrediting

agencies. PhD in Medical Physics or an applied Radiological field of study required. Prior management experience required.

 

Certified by the American Board of Radiology or the American Board of Medical Physics in

Therapeutic Radiological Physics and maintenance of certification.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is typically performed in a clinical environment.

 

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job.

 

RECRUITER:JULIE DENT

jdent1@geisinger.edu

570-271-6744

 

**Does not qualify for J-1 waiver. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.

  

Geisinger fosters an atmosphere of clinical excellence while offering the best of life in small-town America-good schools, safe neighborhoods with affordable housing and a wealth of cultural and recreational activities. The surrounding natural beauty provides opportunities for fishing, skiing, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking. Urban life is easily accessible, with NewYork, Baltimore, Philadelphia or Washington DC just an afternoon’s drive away.

 

About Geisinger

Geisinger Health System is an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development of innovative care delivery models such as ProvenHealth Navigator® and ProvenCare®. As one of the nation’s largest health service organizations, Geisinger serves more than 3 million residents throughout 45 counties in central, south-central and northeast Pennsylvania, and also in southern New Jersey with the addition of AtlantiCare, a National Malcolm Baldridge Award recipient. The physician-led system is comprised of approximately 30,000 employees, including nearly 1,600 employed physicians, 12 hospital campuses, two research centers and a 510,000-member health plan, all of which leverage an estimated $8.9 billion positive impact on the Pennsylvania economy. Geisinger has repeatedly garnered national accolades for integration, quality and service. In addition to fulfilling its patient care mission, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to medical education, research and community service. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org, or follow the latest Geisinger news and more on Twitter and Facebook.