Radiation therapist
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The Radiation Therapist (or Therapeutic Radiographer (esp. UK), or Radiotherapist) is an allied health professional who works in the field of radiation oncology. Radiation therapists plan and administer radiation treatments to cancer patients in most Western countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, most European countries, and Canada where the minimum education requirement is often a baccalaureate degree or postgraduate diplomas in Radiation Therapy. In the United States, radiation therapists have a lower educational requirement (minimum an associate degree of science even though many graduate with bachelor's degrees) and often require further certification (CMD, Certified Medical Dosimetrist) in order to plan treatments.
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[edit] Roles & Responsibilities
Radiation therapists use advanced computer systems to operate sophisticated radiation therapy equipments such as Linear Accelerators. The therapist works closely with the Radiation oncologists, Medical Physicists and other members of the health care team. They effectively design and treat the course of radiation treatment, in addition to managing the patient's well-being. Radiation Therapists primarily treat cancer although other disorders and conditions can be managed through the care of radiation therapists. After the radiation oncologist has consulted with the patient and a decision has been reached that the application of radiation will benefit the patient, it then becomes the radiation therapist's responsibility to interpret the prescription and develop a treatment plan for treatment delivery. The process of producing the final plan rests with a group of specialized radiation therapists called dosimetrists.
Since the course of radiation therapy can extend over several weeks, the radiation therapist is responsible for monitoring the condition of the patient and is required to assess if changes to the treatment plan are required. This is accomplished through patient re-positioning, dose calculations or other specialized methods to compensate for the changes. The therapist is responsible for quality assurance of the radiation treatment. This involves acquiring and recording all parameters needed to deliver the treatment accurately. The therapist ensures that the treatment set-up is correctly administered. The therapist takes imaging studies of the targeted treatment area and reproduces the patient positioning and plan parameters daily. The therapist is responsible for the accuracy of the treatment and uses his/her judgment to ensure quality with regard to all aspects of treatment delivery. During the course of radiation treatment, the patient will most likely develop certain side effects. In such situations, the therapists will communicate these side effects with the radiation oncologist, who may adjust treatment or give medications. Radiation therapists & medical dosimetrists (in many countries these two professions are often indistinguishable, e.g., Canada, Australia, UK) have a training in gross anatomy, physiology, radiation protection, and medical physics. They are highly skilled, highly regarded health care professionals who are integral members of the cancer care team. Radiation therapists call upon their judgment to either continue or cease radiation treatment and ensure patient safety at all times and are regulated by a governing body within their jurisdiction.
[edit] United Kingdom
Therapeutic radiographers play a vital role in the treatment of cancer as the only health professionals\' qualified to plan and deliver radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is used either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. They manage the patient pathway through the many radiotherapy processes, as outlined below, providing care and support for patients throughout their radiotherapy treatment.
Therapeutic radiographers are trained in all the many aspects of radiotherapy including:
Simulation - using specialist x-ray fluoroscopy machines to target the area to be treated whilst minimising the amount of exposure to surrounding healthy tissue;
CT/MR Simulation - producing scans to be used for the planning of a course of radiotherapy;
Computer planning - producing a 3D plan of the dose distribution across the area to be treated;
External beam treatment - using ionising radiation, such as high-energy x-rays, the radiographer delivers accurate doses of radiation to the tumour;
Mould Room - radiographers in the Mould Room plan the treatment of and produce immobilisation/beam attenuation devises for those receiving radiotherapy to the head or neck;
Brachytherapy - the use of small radioactive sources placed on or in tumors to treat to a high dose while avoiding normal tissues;
On treatment review - radiation therapists regularly assess patients while they are undergoing radiotherapy, prescribing drugs to counteract side effects where necessary or referring them on to other health professionals if needed.*[1]
[edit] Canada
Specialist radiation therapists in Ontario are given with prescription rights. Some of the roles of the CSRT (Clinical Specialists Radiation Therapist) include pain management specialists, mycosis fungoides specialists, palliative care specialists, planning image definition and contouring specialist etc.*[2]
[edit] Qualifications & Registration
[edit] Canada
In Ontario, the minimum level for entry to practice is a BSc in Radiation Therapy, offered at the University of Toronto and Laurentian University, and a BMRSc (Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science) in Radiation Therapy is being offered at McMaster University. In British Columbia, British Columbia Institute of Technology offers a BT (Bachelor of Technology) in Radiation Therapy program. In Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg will be offering a BSc in Physics (Radiation Therapy) starting from 2010. And in New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick offers a BHSc (Bachelor of Health Science) in Radiation Therapy. The first Master of Health Science (Radiation Therapy) in Canada is being offered at the University of Toronto, which prepares practitioners for advanced roles in the radiation therapy clinic.
Radiation therapists certified and registered with their provincial regulatory college use the title Medical Radiation Technologist - Radiation Therapist (M.R.T.(T) or sometimes R.T.(T)).
In Canada, there is no real distinction between Radiation Therapists and Medical Dosimetrists. The title "treatment planner", or just "planner" commonly replaces "dosimetrist". Dosimetrists are commonly radiation therapists with several years of experience and have undergone in-house training. The national professional association has recently introduced a Dosimetry Specialty Certificate program to address the fact there is no specific credential (DSp). Many employers recognize the Certified Medical Dosimetrist qualification from the US (Certified Medical Dosimetrist, CMD), but neither are required for practice.
[edit] United Kingdom
In the UK a 3 year BSc in Therapeutic Radiography must be undertaken prior to registration by the UK regulatory authority, the Health Professions Council. UK radiographers are eligible for membership of the Society & College of Radiographers.
Graduate studies at the Masters(Master of Science in Therapeutic Radiography) are also available. Graduates from such programs are seen as advanced practitioners and consultant practitioners and are able to perform many duties which are previously done by physicians. Some radiotherapists proceed to gain their full Master's and Doctoral degrees to work as Consultant Radiotherapists in the UK.
[edit] United States
US: Education required is generally a certification or diploma in radiation therapy. Although there are programs that offer a Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent.
Most therapists must be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and be state licensed in order to practice.
[edit] Australia & New Zealand
A baccalaureate degree in radiation therapy is required in order to register and practice. In Australia, radiation therapists are often being addressed as "Medical Radiation Practitioners" or "Medical radiation scientists"*[3][4][5].
[edit] Salary
In 2008, the mean annual wage of radiation therapists in the United States was $75,450 according to the National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates from the United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics[6].
According to ASRT's national wage survey done in 2003[7], the state that had the highest mean income for radiation therapists was New Mexico($120,250), followed by Arkansas ($109,000). The states which had the lowest average pays were Texas ($57,500) and Rhode Island ($58,400).
In Canada, the hourly wage of radiation therapists from unionized and non-unionized centers ranges from 30-36$ an hour to start to 55$ an hour for senior treatment planning therapists, or an annual base wage of $60,000~$70,000 - $110,000[8][9].
[edit] See also
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