Hospital Radiation Physicist

Class Specifications – H.10
Supervising Hospital Radiation Physicist – 9239
Hospital Radiation Physicist – 9240
Assistant Hospital Radiation Physicist – 9241

April, 1973

Series Concept

Hospital Radiation Physicists perform, supervise, or administer highly specialized duties in physical measurements involved in radiation therapy, isodose measurements, depth and distribution dose measurements, absorption of dose, exposure, and dose rate affects in a hospital or outpatient facility; and perform other related duties as required.

Incumbents perform tests of diagnostic value, investigations of a research nature and administration of radioactive material for therapeutic purposes; resolve theoretical and practical problems of measurements of ionizing radiations under clinical conditions; study the diagnostic use of X-rays; advise on the control of radiation hazards; study and recommend appropriate protective measures; assure that certain standards are maintained with regard to dosimetry and radiation hazard control; assess and plot distribution of radiation dose; calibrate radiation-prodSystemwideng and detecting equipment including nuclear medical apparatus and measure radiation output of treatment sources and generators; design, test and repair radiation dosimeters and associated equipment; calculate and assess shielding requirements associated with radiation sources; provide all dose-calculation services necessary for patient treatment and diagnosis with external, interstitial, intracavitary and distributed internal sources; provide consulting and collaborative services for other departments using radiation in any form; and provide all instruction in radiation physics to residents in radiology through formal lectures and on-the-job training.

Class Concepts

Supervising Hospital Radiation Physicist

Incumbents supervise the work of other Hospital Radiation Physicists. Work is performed under the direction of the Department Chairman. Typically at this level, incumbents plan, organize and supervise a medical physics program in a hospital and outpatient facility including the evaluation of ongoing projects, staffing and budget needs and long-range goals and objectives; collaborate on intra and interdepartmental research projects; provide consulting services to other departments; initiate and maintain independent research projects; organize and supervise mechanical and electronic services to the Department of Radiology and others; design and test equipment; provide instruction in radiation physics for residents, medical students and other personnel; organize and supervise minor research and development projects concerned with equipment instrumentation and techniques; and supervise the work of other technical personnel.

Hospital Radiation Physicist

incumbents perform the most difficult technical duties under the direction of a Department Chairman or higher level Physicist. This is the full professional level in the series. Typically at this level, incumbents specify and supervise the installation of all radiation prodSystemwideng and detecting equipment including nuclear medical apparatus; design and test shielding for all equipment and supervise fabrication of necessary accessories; supervise resident treatment planning, calculation and measurement of interstitial irradiations and dose to internal sources; collaborate on Interdepartmental research projects requiring both clinical and experimental dosimetry; provide consulting and collaborative service to other departments regarding specifications, purchase, commissioning and operation of equipment; interpret results obtained from equipment including ultrasonic devices, PH and oxygen tension instruments, pressure transducers, body fluid pump, thermography and holography; provide instruction in radiation physics for residents at formal lectures and in on-the-job training; participate in instruction of physics to medical and allied health personnel; organize the operation of monitoring services, licensing, and liaison activities with the State Department of Health; provide institution- wide service in the field of Health Physics.

Assistant Hospital Radiation Physicist

This is the entry level and incumbents perform duties under the supervision of a higher level Physicist. Typically at this level, incumbents perform duties in a specialty area of radiation therapy, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation safety or other branches of medical physics at the discretion of a higher level Physicist. In dosimetric service, provide and maintain all dose measurements required by the radiation therapy division; calibrate radiation prodSystemwideng and detecting equipment; test radiation shielding around radiation prodSystemwideng equipment; provide and maintain standards for measurement of radioactivity required in the nuclear medicine division; calibrate clinical radiopharmaceuticals; calibrate radiation detecting equipment including energy calibration of single and multi- analyzers; investigate radiation hazards. In patient service, provide dose calculations and measurement necessary for patient treatment with external, interstitial, intercavitary and distributed internal sources, including production of normal standard isodose plots, calculation and measurement of interstitial irradiations, measurement and calculation of dose from internal sources; work with radiotherapy personnel in clinical dosimetry; provide equipment calibration and calculation in patient diagnosis. In other radiation services, provide calibrations and dose calculations for experimental and in vitro radiation.

Minimum Qualifications

Supervising Hospital Radiation Physicist

A Bachelor’s degree in physics with two years of specialized training in radiation physics, or a master’s degree in radiation physics; and seven years of experience including three years of increasing responsibility in planning, organizing and supervising a radiation physics unit; of a Ph.D. degree in physics or physics applied in biology or radiation and four years of experience including two years of increasing responsibility; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Hospital Radiation Physicist

A Bachelor’s degree in physics with two years of specialized training in radiation physics and five years’ experience; or a Master’s degree in radiation physics with five years of experience; or a Ph.D. in physics or physics applied to biology or radiation and two years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Assistant Hospital Radiation Physicist

A Bachelor’s degree in physics and two years of specialized training in radiation physics; or a Master’s degree in a related field.