Senior Medical Physicist

at  Beaumont Hospital

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE POST

This post is in the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) Department. The Department’s mission is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical services for the benefit of patients, through the optimisation of medical technology throughout the life-cycle, including acquisition, application, performance and utilisation.
The post holder will ideally be a Medical Physics Expert and will be involved in the provision of scientific, technical and business support. The role primarily includes engagement and input to the provision of radiation physics services to the RCSI Hospital Group, particularly in relation to the development and provision of a high quality radiation protection advisory support service. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient experience to allow them to engage in a mentoring process leading to registration as Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) on the RPA register, held by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The post holder will engage with the relevant Principal Physicist to provide high quality services offered by the department, working in close cooperation with clinical disciplines. As travel between hospitals in the group is necessary, the post holder will be required to hold a current driving licence and own transport. This should be outlined clearly in CV.
The ideal candidate should demonstrate a number of key qualities, with particular attention given to those who demonstrate considerable expertise and experience in the provision of scientific and technical support services in medicine.

The post holder will be required to demonstrate:

• A good business approach to the delivery of services. It is important that the service is reviewed and that new opportunities are identified, links forged with other institutions, manufacturers and service suppliers, etc., so that expertise can be enhanced and that training and teaching skills are further developed.
• A good knowledge of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering and how legislation applies to professional practice in the hospital environment.
• Evidence of effective planning and organising skills.
• Focus on providing a quality service and an openness to change.
• The ability to engage with other relevant departments both within and outside the hospital group.
• The ability to identify the pathways required for improving on perceived weaknesses of services to improve on clinical outcomes.

Responsibilities:

DESIRABLE

1. Be a registered Medical Physics Expert, or are actively seeking such registration
2. Experience in the fields of medical imaging and quality assurance programmes
3. Current driving licence is essential

Principal duties and responsibilities include:

• The provision of a medical physics service to imaging and radiation physics, including the scientific and technical support required in Radiation Protection and Diagnostic Radiology Services, that is fully aligned with and enables the delivery of high quality, safe and value conscious healthcare services.
• To be an active member of the medical physics and clinical engineering (MPCE) team contributing to the development and delivery of the department’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Provide active participation within the imaging and radiation physics service delivery, to drive continuous quality improvement that supports improved levels of patient care.
• Support and deliver activities within the imaging and radiation physics group on x-ray imaging equipment, advanced imaging and health informatics systems and with other electro-medical equipment management functions where required.
• Ensure that appropriate protocols, procedures and structures are maintained to promote and develop a high-performing imaging and radiation physics service, with responsive delivery to the highest standard.
• Where required, contribute to the development and provision of a Regional Scientific Advisory Service for radiation protection and quality assurance of diagnostic imaging equipment, for identified radiology departments within the RCSI Hospital Group.
• Where required, contribute the provision of a Regional Scientific Advisory Service for the assessment and acquisition of new technology and radiology equipment, including development, planning and equipping of new installations.
• Work in close cooperation with the relevant Principal Physicist to manage resources for the delivery of services and support to radiology departments and other departments as required.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and continuous enhancement of imaging and radiation physics services as required.
• Foster and develop relationships with radiology stakeholders within Beaumont and externally (e.g. clinicians, allied health professionals, equipment suppliers, field service engineers, academia, etc.) to continuously market and promote the potential for leading and contributing to health service improvements that will benefit service providers and patients.
• To liaise with senior management in the radiology departments to ensure delivery of service goals and objectives.
• Analyse imaging and radiation physics requirements and anticipate equipment resources needed to meet objectives.
• Support and contribute to project management services for imaging and electromedical equipment procurement, through all stages from equipment specification, tender evaluation, pre-installation planning, installation, acceptance testing and commissioning - including both hardware and software elements; ensuring reliable and robust systems integration with all necessary clinical systems.
• Actively contribute to clinical justification and system specification prior to relevant medical device purchases.
• Provide a scientific and technical review of tender responses within the procurement process, ensuring where necessary that systems purchased will integrate and communicate with existing legacy systems.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a range of technical equipment specifications.
• Co-ordinate and implement preventative maintenance schedules and safety programmes for medical devices, within the imaging and radiation physics service and other services as required.
• Liaise closely with the ICT departments and managers, where necessary, to ensure provision of a reliable network infrastructure and service to support safe, efficient delivery of clinical services.
• Manage relationships with equipment suppliers and field service engineers to monitor the work conducted by such engineers on the hospital’s imaging technology and associated accessories.
• Review and approve equipment service contracts for imaging and electromedical equipment in radiology and elsewhere as required.
• Provision of quality management and auditing of equipment service contracts, ensuring the delivery of such services are maintained at the highest standards.
• Where required, manage, assess and audit corrective maintenance delivered by the equipment supplier/manufacturer’s service teams.
• Contribute to the management and sourcing of all technical supplies deemed necessary to allow efficient delivery of the service, through liaison with relevant departments.
• Where necessary, contribute to the development, implementation and use of a comprehensive asset register of ionising radiation equipment for the hospital’s licence.
• Where required, ensure all imaging equipment records are logged and appropriately updated on the hospital’s equipment management database and asset register.
• In conjunction with the Principal Physicist, clinical personnel and system suppliers / manufacturers, manage adequate applications and technical training for all relevant staff on new equipment and system upgrades.
• Contribute to the provision and management of on-going education and training to hospital staff, in relation to the safe and reliable use of electromedical equipment.
• Contribute to the establishment of and participation in orientation and teaching / training programmes for new staff, other relevant personnel and students, as required.
• In close cooperation with the Principal Physicist, establish and implement quality assurance protocols for the imaging and ionising radiation equipment infrastructure, to ensure integrity of the associated clinical processes, as necessary.
• Ensure the provision and proactive delivery of routine QA checking and measurements on relevant clinical imaging and electro-medical equipment, to ensure consistent reliability and adherence to relevant performance and safety standards and legislation.
• Participation in Quality Assurance and Risk Management Programmes particularly in relation to statutory requirements and legislation.
• Contribute, as required to various safety programmes for medical equipment (e.g. electrical and mechanical safety programmes, decontamination and vigilance).
• Take responsibility for self-directed, self-initiated learning to ensure that his/her own knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date by participation in appropriate continuing education and professional development activities.
• Ensure all records in relation to the senior physicist’s work are current and well maintained.
• Support and initiate research and development activities in collaboration with colleagues in MPCE and throughout Beaumont Hospital, industry and academia to drive evidence-based health service improvement and to establish improved levels of application of technology where appropriate.
• To actively participate in the department’s academic, seminar programmes, in-service lectures and clinical meetings by presenting new and/or relevant topics in the field of healthcare as well as provide feedback from scientific meetings and external training sessions.
• To support the health technology advisory role of the MPCE department.
• Represent the MPCE department at internal Beaumont and national fora as appropriate (e.g. Participation on committees as and where required).
• To provide cross cover during holidays and sick leave.
• Performing other duties as may be assigned to him/her.

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and will be subject to review in light of experience and/or changing circumstances. Consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the Chief Physicist or designate and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Qualifications: