Job Description

The  Health Physicist III  reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Health Physicist III, under the direction of the Radiation Safety Officer, assists in the development, implementation, coordination, evaluation and continuous improvement of the radiation and laser safety programs.  Responsibilities include general surveillance of overall activities and areas in which radioactive materials/radiation sources and laser equipment are used, supporting compliance with rules and regulations, authorized users and research projects approval as specified by the Radiation Safety Officer or Radiation Safety Committee, consultation on radiation protection with department radiation safety liaisons, determination of need and evaluation of personnel monitoring, and implementation of instructional programs on safe procedures in the use of radiation sources.

Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Radiation Safety Officer, the Health Physicist III will assist in the design, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the radioactive material management programs in all areas of the hospital

Promotes departmental goals in the protection of employees, staff, physicians, students, guests, and visitors

Provide radiation safety training for occupational radiation workers

Help maintain databases within the department

Have proficiency in the use of meters and instrumentation used in the departments

Perform surveys and wipe tests of all laboratories using radioactive materials in accordance with the Radioactive Materials License

Perform radiological or environmental surveys as required or as directed by the Radiation Safety Officer

Radiation safety functions related to radiopharmaceutical therapies performed on patients

Monitor all intercavitary of interstitial implant patients and high dose therapy patients

Ensure bioassays of personnel are completed in accordance with the Radioactive Materials License

Work with other departments in the hospital to ensure radiation safety compliance

Maintains the meter calibration program under the direction of the RSO

Collect, inventory, and prepare for removal of all radioactive waste generated

Receive and distribute all incoming radioactive materials

Perform quarterly sealed source inventory and semi-annual leak testing

Participates regulatory processes, surveys, inspections, as directed (IEMA, OSHA, DOT, NRC, OIG, DOE, EPA, etc)

Supports emergency response and participates in drills and actual incidents including those that might occur after hours or on the weekends

Additional responsibilities

Involvement in the planning of quarterly Radiation Safety Committee meetings

Responsible for coordinating radiation safety training for occupational radiation workers, including residents and fellows

Responsible for the lead apron and lead waste programs

Direct the monitoring and decontamination for radioactive spills

Supports the Laser Safety Officer

Perform required calibrations of the liquid scintillation counter, auto gamma counter and uptake probe

Mentor level I and II health physicists

Assist Radiation Safety Officer with IRB dosimetry language

Participate in Radiation Safety education for the Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy programs

Assist the Radiation Safety Officer as needed

Working Conditions:

The Radiation Safety Department is responsible for overseeing the Radiation Safety Program and regulatory functions for the Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Radioactive Materials License.  This involves traveling to Northwestern Medicine hospitals throughout the Northwestern Memorial HealthCare system. Health Physicist III has a primary reporting location of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but all health physicists will also be expected to travel to off-sites to support health physics services.