Netcare Medical Physicist

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We are united by a common purpose of providing the best and safest care; and by our shared values of Care, Truth, Participation, Compassion and Dignity.

Netcare invites you to be part of our journey.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Netcare Medical Physicist is responsible for delivering a medical physics services to the Oncology and Diagnostic imaging departments in the hospital / region, to render and promote quality patient care in accordance with hospital standards / policies, and to give on the spot training to colleagues and co-workers.
Services as defined in the clinical service model will be offered to all departments in the Netcare Hospital Division that makes use of radiation emitting and related equipment:
1. Radiation Oncology;
2. Diagnostic Radiology;
3. Molecular Imaging (Nuclear Medicine);
4. Hospital - Radiation Protection.

KEY WORK OUTPUT AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION

Regulatory compliance

• Ensure compliance of the region in terms of regional and provincial legislation as well as Netcare clinical governance policies.
• Registered with the HPCSA as Medical Scientists (Medical Physics) as required by regulation R579 of 22 May 2009 in terms of section 33(1) of the Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974), or any future regulation published to replace abovementioned regulations.
• Act on behalf of the license holders (Netcare Oncology and Diagnostic X-ray departments) in compliance with R1332, 1973, III.3 to take responsibility for the entire scope of radiation protection with regard to listed electronic products (Group III) as detailed in regulations R1332 and further described in the relevant Netcare Policies.
• Implement policies and procedures consistent with those of the organization, including but not limited to the Internal Rules as required by R247, 1993, to ensure efficient and safe operation of the units in the hospital/s.
• Implement (and attend) continued training programmes in the departments to ensure that all members of staff do not only have the technical knowledge required in terms of R1332 III.4 (i) (3), but are also fully conversant with currently accepted principles and techniques to minimize radiation hazard to patients, and that such workers in fact take advantage of such techniques and any improvements thereof. (R1332, III.6 (ix)).
• Ensure adherence to additional equipment specific licensing conditions as enforced from time to time by Department of Health, including but not limited to conditions relating to linear accelerators, diagnostic x-ray equipment and nuclear medicine imaging devices.
• Maintain professional contact with peers through attendance at professional meetings and related activities, thereby ensuring that CPD education is maintained in accordance with the HPCSA requirements.

Operational risk management

• Implement programmes / protocols to ensure the safe and efficient use of radiation emitting and related devices, including but not limited to:
• commissioning and acceptance testing of units;
• licensing, inspection and/or accreditation of units;
• continued Quality Assurance and Quality Control;
• accurate and legible record keeping;
• device specific operating procedures; and
• technique / patient specific treatment protocols and procedures.

Radiation oncology

• Conduct acceptance testing, calibration checks, safety surveys and minor maintenance of linear accelerators, simulators, CT simulators and other sources of radiation, to ensure correct and consistent results and output. 
• Ensure that every electronic product licensed for therapeutic application is calibrated before being brought into use and after repairs, that such calibrations are checked at regular intervals not exceeding three months in the course of use and the product recalibrated if a check shows evidence of a variation in output of more than approximately 5 per cent (R1332 III.6(h)).
• Responsible to furnish the license holder with a dated signature on the existing time chart on completion of every check and calibration, to be retained by the holder for a period of 5 years from the date of the signature as record of such checks and calibrations (R1332 III.6(i)).
• Responsible for the calibration and testing of all dosimetric devices, including general and personal dosemeters and in vivo dosimetry systems, before being brought into use, after repairs and at regular intervals as required by legislation (R1332 III.5(c)(10).
• Perform acceptance testing, beam data entry, beam modeling and quality assurance of treatment planning computers and record and verification systems.
• Consult, inspect and verify quality assurance aspects relating to individual patients, including but not limited to calculation of dose distributions, verification of treatment plans, absorbed dose measurements, in vivo dosimetry and participation in the design and manufacture of shielding and/or immobilization devices.
• Provide assistance and compulsory presence during specialist radiotherapy services, including but not limited to radiosurgery, brachytherapy (HDR and seed implant) and IMRT as required.  Include all aspects of radiation safety, individual patient monitoring, staff training and monitoring, treatment planning, QA, and calibration of sources and/or specialized equipment.

Diagnostic imaging

• Responsible for the delineation of the physical aspects of Diagnostic Imaging system, by developing technical specification of new equipment performance, supervision of acceptance testing and performance verification according to Department of Health Code: Diagnostic QC 2009-1 (published in May 2009) or and other SAPHRA requirements published from time to time, supervision of calibration, supervising repair of equipment and documentation of all relevant information.
• Maintain a quality management program for all imaging equipment.
• Responsible for all instrumentation required for quality control, image quality, and patient exposure measurements and determination of doses from radiological procedures.
• Establish and maintain radiation safety program by developing and administer radiation safety programs, administer personnel radiation monitoring, and as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) programs.
• Participate in the hospital’s radiation safety committee and other committees as appropriate.
• Facilitate the compliance with all regulating and certifying agencies (e.g. Department of Health: Radiation Control, SAPHRA ,SANAS, etc.).
• Consult with imaging physicians and others using medical imaging equipment regarding the radiological and radiobiological aspects of patient examinations, assist in the evaluation of examination efficacy and participation in image quality and perception studies.
• Initiate education of the diagnostic imaging staff to ensure the efficient implantation of new technology; continue education for imaging physicians, nurses, radiographers and other medical physicists on radiation safety.
• Perform acceptance testing, calibration checks, safety surveys and maintenance of radiation emitting and related devices to ensure correct and consistent results and output. 
• Responsible to furnish the license holder with a dated signature on the existing time chart on completion of every check and calibration, to be retained by the holder for a period of 12 months from the date of the signature as record of such checks and calibrations (R1332 III.6(i)).

Planning

• Serve on hospital and/or departmental committees where appropriate and assist to review and revise policies and procedures as directed.
• Plan ways to solve problems and to make improvements in the department in collaboration with senior staff, technicians, and physicists if necessary.
• Participate in implementing planned changes and activities to improve the service.

Evaluation

• Evaluate self-objectives and plans, revise and develop new objectives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of problem-solving techniques and the activities implemented to improve the service in collaboration with supervisory personnel.
• Contribute to the performance evaluation of personnel in the unit.
• Participate in the evaluation of orientation policies and procedures and recommends revisions to the Radiotherapy Manager.
• Participate in the evaluation of education programmes and training.
• Evaluate achievement or lack of achievement and desired outcomes in self and subordinates.
• Formulate desired outcomes specific to the patient problems and established norms.

Implementation

• Participate in implementing planned changes and activities to improve the service.
• Held self-accountable for the delivery of quality care.
• Support and adhere to administrative and service policies and procedures.
• Acts rapidly and effectively, manages self, patients, and other employees, during any emergency situation.

Administration

• Compile statistics as and when required.

SANAS duties

• Be named on the SANAS certificate of approval for NMP CoE as Technical Signatory or inspector for ISO 17020 / 17025.
• Be named, if required, as SANAS nominated representative, technical manager or quality manager for ISO 17020 / 17025 accreditation.
• Authorise quality control inspection reports for which technical signatory status is approved.
• Assure that inspections are done in compliance to the relevant ISO / IEC 17020 / 17025 standards and are confidential and impartial.
• Ensure inspections and reports issued are accurate and traceable to the standards accepted by the regulator (DRC or SAPHRA).
• Be knowledgeable on the hazards, procedures and equipment associated with all NMP CoE inspections.
• Be familiar with all general requirements set by the DoH, DRC, SAPHRA ISO 17020, ISO 17025, SANAS R78 and associated procedures; applicable for all areas of inspection body or testing laboratory ISO accreditation.

TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOCIETY

Build and maintain stakeholder relationships

• Promote harmonious relationships and favourable attitudes among the NMP team.
• Assist with the orientation of new employees.
• Attend the required in-service programmes.

Radiation related advisory service

• Supply the NMP radiation related advisory service in the region, focusing on, but not limited to;
• radiation protection education and training;
• equipment use and treatment procedure education and training;
• patient treatment planning analysis, evaluation and reporting;
• design, specification and tender evaluation of new units and radiation related equipment;
• shielding analysis and design for new and current units;
• radiation risk management;
• incident analysis and reporting.

Personal and professional development

• Ensure active involvement in own professional development to maintain a satisfactory level of skill and knowledge

SKILLS PROFILE

EDUCATION

Required

• A BSC degree at NQF level 7 and a Medical Physicist Honours Degree (NQF level 8).
• Registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Scientist (Medical Physicist).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• In the event of any physical or psychological limitation that may impair the employee’s ability to perform the required job function, the employee must consult the employer for reasonable accommodation.

SKILLS

Coaching Others

• The capacity to recognise development areas in others and support them to facilitate personal development through coaching.

Leading and Managing Change

• The capacity to implement and support change initiatives and to provide leadership in times of uncertainty.

Performance Development

• The ability to evaluate and develop different levels of capacity within a team to achieve set objectives.

Taking Action

• Capable of recognising the need for action, considering possible risks, and taking responsibility for results.

Decision Making

• Capable of making decisions timeously and taking responsibility for the consequences.

Managing Self

• Capacity to plan, organise and control own work environment by setting appropriate priorities and achieving set objectives within a given time frame.

Customer Focus and Service Delivery

• The capacity to identify and respond to the needs of internal and external customers.

Adapting and Responding to Change

• Capable of supporting and advocating change initiatives and managing own reaction to change.

Continuous Improvement

• The capacity to improve systems and processes to facilitate continuous improvement.

Technical Knowledge

• The capacity to perform a technical function to required standards.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Professional flexibility in working hours while supporting daily business operations.
• Will interact with internal and external customers through several different means.
• Travel to support the functions of the role may be required.

NETCARE VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

Netcare Values
At Netcare, our core value is care. We care about the dignity of our patients and all members of the Netcare family. We care about the participation of our people and our partners in everything we do. We care about truth in all our actions. We are passionate about quality care and professional excellence.

• At Netcare, our core value is care.
• We care about the dignity of our patients and all members of the Netcare family.
• We care about the participation of our people and our healthcare partners in everything that we do.
• We care about the truth in all our actions.
• We listen with empathy and respond with acts of compassion in all interactions with our patients and their families.

The Netcare Way

Netcare is committed to providing quality care. Our basic service standard holds us accountable for the below seven behaviours which you will be accountable to uphold:

• Respect - I always greet everyone to show my respect.
• Identity - I always wear my name badge to show my identity.
• Dignity - I always treat others with consideration and humility to uphold dignity
• Care - I always act in the best interest of Netcare and others to show I care
• Compassion - I always listen with empathy and respond with kind action to show my compassion
• Appreciation - I always say thank you to show my appreciation.
• Diversity- I always embrace diversity to strengthen inclusivity and belonging.

Join the team committed to providing the best and safest health and care.