Ever wondered who works in Radiotherapy?

There are many great professionals in Radiotherapy, each as important as the next. Each have their own tasks and specialties, and all come together to provide precise radiotherapy for cancer patients. A true unique multidisciplinary team of professionals. So what are these professions in radiotherapy? And what tasks do each perform?

The professions are Admins staff, Dietitians, Dosimetrists, Engineers, Medical Physicists, Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Oncology Nurses, Radiation Therapists, Social workers, and Support staff in alphabetical order- not order of importance. Because without any of these professions a center would be providing inadequate radiotherapy which could possibly not be safe.

Admin Staff

So let’s start off with the unsung hero of many offices and workplaces- the admin staff. They perform a necessary component of a radiotherapy center. From handling patient referrals, booking patients appointments with radiation oncologists, organizing staff schedules, and generally keeping a cancer center running. Some work at receptions welcoming patients, and others work in back offices.

Dietitians

Dietitians work with patients to help maintain normal nutrition. They monitor the patient’s weight and any nutritional problems. They educate patients about diet issues that they could face during radiation therapy and may provide them with recipes and nutritional supplements to improve their nutritional status before, during and after treatment. Dietitians normally attend four years of college or university degree then usually take part in a one-year internship or registrar position, depending on where they are around the world. They are normally associated with a professional body such as the American Dietetic Association after they have professional examination.

Dosimetrist

Dosimetrists take the prescription given by the radiation oncologist and carefully calculate the dose of radiation, how it will be delivered and to make sure the tumor gets enough radiation. They develop a treatment plan that is inline with what the Radiation Oncologist has prescribed, insuring that they are sparing any normal tissue surrounding the tumor. This plan is then reviewed by the Radiation Oncologist to ensure it satisfies their treatment goals.

Many of these treatment plans are very complex. Dosimetrists work the Radiation Oncologists and the Medical Physicist to plan a treatment which is individual for each patient.

Many dosimetrists start as radiation therapists, then, with very intensive training, become dosimetrists. Others are graduates of one-to-two-year dosimetry programs. In the united states the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board certified dosimetrists. Dosimetrists are technically a North American profession. In other parts of the world there tasks are performed by radiation therapists trained in radiation dose planning.

After the treatment plan has been finalized and signed off by the Radiation Oncologist it is handed to the Medical Physicist for a second check. Depending on how complex the plan is the second check my just be a review, or it could be a physical delivery of the plan on the treatment machine whilst measuring the dose output.

Engineer

Engineers are trained professionals who maintain the radiation equipment. They are often employed by the company that provides the equipment. They work closely with the medical physicist to identify issues and problems on equipment before they occur. Replacing and installing new parts and continuously upgrading the equipment. They are highly skilled in electrical engineering and IT systems.

Medical Physicist

Medical Physicists work directly with the Dosimetrists and Radiation therapists in the treatment planning. They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored for each patient.

Medical physicists are also responsible for developing and directing quality control programs for equipment and procedures. They are responsible for making sure the equipment is works properly and is properly calibrated to international protocols. Medical radiation physicists take precise measurements of radiation beam characteristics and dose output as well as other safety tests on a regular basis, to insure patients receive precise and accurate treatment.

Medical physicists normally have a degree in physics and go on to a doctorates or master’s degrees in Medical Physics. This is followed on by up to four years of clinical physics training in Australasia, in America and Europe this is shortened to two years. They can certified by the American Board of Radiology, the American Board of Medical Physics, the Australian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine or a number of other professional bodies.

The Medical physicist often works behind the scenes and patients are normally not aware of the work they do. They often work nights and evenings so that patients treatments can continue throughout the day. Medical physicist often work with the engineers to check the correct installation and maintenance of equipment after any repair or maintenance.

Radiation Oncologist

Doctors who oversee the care of each cancer patient undergoing radiation treatment are called Radiation Oncologist. They develop and prescribe each cancer patient’s treatment plan, and they monitor the patient’s progress and adjust treatment to make sure patients get quality care throughout treatment.

Radiation oncologists also help identify and treat any side effects of radiation therapy and work closely with all members of the radiation oncology team. Radiation oncologists have completed four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of general medical internship, then four years of residency (specialty training in radiation oncology). They have extensive training in the safe use of radiation to treat disease.

Radiation Oncology Nurse

Nurses who work with the radiation team to care for patients during the course of treatment are called radiation oncology nurse. They help evaluate the patient before treatment begins. They may talk to the patient about potential side effects and their management. During the course of radiation treatments, the nurse may evaluate the patient weekly or more frequently to assess problems and concerns. Along with Radiation Therapists, Nurses play a key role in educating the patient about treatment, side effects, etc. Radiation oncology nurses are registered nurses licensed to practice professional nursing. Most nurses in radiation therapy have additional accreditation in the specialty of oncology nursing.

Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists work with radiation oncologists and administer the daily radiation treatment under the doctor’s prescription. They maintain daily records and regularly check the treatment machines to make sure they are working properly. Radiation therapists go through a two-to-four year educational program following high school or college, then take a special examination to become accredited.

Along with the Radiation Oncology Nurses the radiation therapists maintain contact with the patients to evaluate the general well being of the patient and in the management of any side effects that may occur.

They also assist in the design of the patient immobilization devices and treatment set up. They set the patient up on the treatment machine for each of the daily treatments and insure that they are located correctly. This insure that the radiation is delivered to the target correctly.

Social Worker

Social workers may be available to provide practical help and counseling to patients or members of their families. They can help a patient and family members cope. They also may help arrange for home health care and other services.

Support staff

Just like admin staff, support staff are normally forgotten. Any facility requires a host of support staff, from cleaners, building maintenance, security staff, hospital orderlies and IT professional. Depending on the size of the Radiotherapy facility these staff may be in house or contracted to local companies to provide their services.

As you can see to keep a Radiotherapy facility running smoothly and safely requires a whole host of different professions, some taking more than a decade to train. All these professions need to work together ultimately with the patient’s treatment mind. Most of the professions are known to patients, but several work behind the scenes.

I hope this have given you an idea of the complexity of a radiotherapy facility. Along with the multi million dollar machines and building the whole operation is expensive…but worth it!

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Originally published at www.radicalradiationremedy.com on February 5, 2017.