Radiation Therapy Program

Radiation Therapy is a field in which Radiation Therapists prepare cancer patients for treatment and administer prescribed doses of ionizing radiation to specific body parts as directed by a Radiation Oncologist (a physician). They operate many kinds of equipment, including high-energy linear accelerators with electron capabilities, simulators, and treatment planning equipment. Radiation Therapists deliver radiation treatments to affected parts of the body using this highly specialized equipment, while protecting the rest of the body from radiation. All of this is done with absolute accuracy. They also monitor the patient's reactions for radiation side effects such as nausea, hair loss, and skin irritation and maintain highly accurate records.

Most radiation therapists are graduates from an accredited program in radiography first. They have typically graduated from a two-year certificate program in radiography or a two-year Associate degree program. The radiation therapy program at Jewish Hospital College leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiologic Sciences with a concentration in Radiation Therapy.

All radiologic science professionals take a certification exam at the end of their education, administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, or ARRT. This is a national agency which certifies radiologic science professionals. Radiation therapists take the certification exam in Radiation Therapy at the end of their radiation therapy education. The radiation therapist can be registered in radiation therapy alone, or, as do most radiation therapists, both in radiography and radiation therapy.

The Radiation Therapy program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Students enter the Radiation Therapy Program as a graduate of an accredited two-year program in Radiologic Technology, either with or without an Associate Degree. The student must have either taken the ARRT registry exam and passed or be waiting for results when accepted. The student must provide the college with the exam results as soon as they are available.

Radiation Therapy students receive their clinical experience in the senior year of the program. Their radiation therapy courses are taken along with clinical practicum. Clinical practica are taken at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, in the radiation therapy department in the Siteman Cancer Center. Additional clinical rotations, used for student enrichment, are also scheduled. Participating Radiation Therapy departments are: Missouri Baptist Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood, St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, and the Cancer Treatment Center in Belleville, IL.

PROGRAM GOALS:

To prepare graduates to:

1. Perform procedures, tasks and skills accurately.
2. Use analytical and clinical decision-making skills to evaluate health status.
3. Maintain effective quality assurance.
4. Assess the economic implications of new techniques, equipment and procedures.
5. Use research strategies to evaluate and implement procedures and protocols.
6. Demonstrate effective communication skills.
7. Adhere to professional, ethical and legal standards.
8. Participate in improvement of health care, scholarship in clinical practice and lifelong learning.

BSRS Curricular Plans

Radiation Therapy for ASR Radiographers  (2 Year Sample Course Plan)   

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science Concentration: Radiation Therapy (BSRS)

In addition to the College Undergraduate Admission Criteria, the following criteria are considered when reviewing an application to the BSRS - Radiation Therapy program:

1. High School Biology and Algebra II or College level Intermediate Algebra must be successfully completed or submission of a midterm grade report showing satisfactory progess.
2. Graduation from a JRCERT or regionally accredited radiography program.
3. Current proof of ARRT registration as a Radiographer (R.T.(R)) or registry eligible.*

*The admission status or registry-eligible applicants is pending proof of registration by AART.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Degree requirements for the BSRS - Radiation Therapy concentration:

1. Successfully complete the equivalent of 121 semester credit hours.
2. Successfully complete the equivalent of 32 hours in professional core courses in Radiation Therapy.
3. Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in residence at Barnes-Jewish College.
4. Attain a GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale with a minimum of a "C" in each program prerequisite and program specific courses in the discipline.

BSRS - RADIATION THERAPY COURSES

For BSRS program, one unit of credit is equal to 16 hours of instruction. For clinical practicum, one unit of credit is equal to 192 clinical contact hours.

RX 4200 - Principles of Radiation Therapy Practice I
2 credit hours (2 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisites: RX-3500, U29-120 & 121, HS 4510
Co-requisites: RX-4250, RX-4300
This course provides the student with and overview of the foundations in radiation therapy and the practitioners’s role. Principles of radiation, health safety, ethics and the professional responsibilities of the radiation therapist will be discussed and examined. Basic operational issues an radiation therapy will be examined. The role of the radiation therapist in the health care organization, the treatment prescription, the documentation of treatment parameters and delivery, emergency procedures and patient condition and education needs will be presented, discussed, and evaluated.

RX 4250 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Practicum Orientation
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisites: HS 1120, HS 3131
Co-requisite: RX-4200
Overview of Radiation Therapy Clinical Practices and its role in Health Care. Content and clinical practice experience combines the didactic with the psychomotor skills and incorporates the two with the affective domain of patient care in radiation oncology. The students are expected to observe and gain practical experience in the areas of patient care, patient safety, department operation, localization, treatment, dosimetry, and quality assurance as these are all components of the daily responsibilities of the radiation therapist.

RX 4300 - Treatment Techniques
3 credit hours (2 didactic/1 lab)
Prerequisites: RX-3500, HS-1330, U29-120 & 121, U23-103, U20-141
Co-requisites: RX-4250, RX-4200
Introduces concepts and terminology of radiation therapy treatment set-ups. Examines anatomy, positioning, immobilization, field boundaries, and standard beam arrangements for site-specific anatomical areas. Laboratory experiences include virtual simulation demonstrations and conventional/CT simulator practice with phantom.

RX-4310 - Treatment Planning
3 credit hours (2 didactic/1 lab)
Prerequisites: RX-4300, U23-104, U20-142
Co-requisites: RX-4250, RX-4200
Introduces concepts and terminology of radiation therapy treatment planning. Describes anatomical site-specific treatment planning, which incorporates imaging; target volume delineation and dose prescription; organs at risk delineation and respective dose limitations; beam arrangement, energy, modality, and modifiers; related calculations; and dose evaluation. Laboratory experiences include demonstrations and practice with computer treatment planning systems.

RX-4340 - Radiation Therapy Physics
2 credit hours (2 didactic/0 lab)
Prerequisite: RX-4310
Co-requisite: RX-4350
Focuses on atomic and nuclear structure, radioactive decay, x-ray production, and interactions of ionizing radiation. Provides the fundamental procedures for radiation measurements, calculation of dose, and determining x-ray quality. Presents characteristics and utilization of radiation therapy treatment units and simulators.

RX-4350 - Clinical Practicum I
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisites: HS 2200, HS 5902, RX-4250
Co-requisite: RX-4340
Content and clinical practice experiences shall be designed for sequential development, application, analysis, integration, synthesis and evaluation of concepts and theories in radiation therapy. Clinical practice experiences shall be designed to provide care to the patient in the therapeutic setting for simulation, treatment planning and administration of a prescribed course of treatment. Levels of competency and outcomes measurement shall assure the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following delivery of radiation therapy treatment and services. Through structured assignments in clinical facilities, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development shall be discussed examined and evaluated.

RX-4440 - Clinical Dosimetry I
2 credit hour (2 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4340
Co-requisite: RX-4450
Reviews basic concepts introduced in RX-4310 Treatment Planning, further examining factors that influence and govern dose determination and planning treatment for radiation therapy patients. Emphasizes clinical application of photon and electron beam characteristics, dose calculations, and related factors to safely and optimally treat the radiation therapy patient. Several laboratory sessions supplement the lectures.

RX-4450 - Clinical Practicum II
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4350
Co-requisite: RX-4440
Content and clinical practice experiences shall be designed for sequential development, application, analysis, integration, synthesis and evaluation of concepts and theories in radiation therapy. Clinical practice experiences shall be designed to provide care to the patient in the therapeutic setting for simulation, treatment planning and administration of a prescribed course of treatment. Levels of competency and outcomes measurement shall assure the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following delivery of radiation therapy treatment and services. Through structured assignments in clinical facilities, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development shall be discussed, examined and evaluated. Continuation of RX-4350, Clinical Practicum I.

RX 4500 - Principles of Radiation Therapy Practice II
3 credit hours (3 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisites: RX-4200, RX-4300, RX-4450
Co-requisites: RX-4550, RX-4650
This course is designed to examine and evaluate the management of neoplastic disease. The epidemiology, etiology, detection, diagnosis, patient condition, treatment and prognosis of neoplastic disease will be presented, discussed and evaluated in relationship to histology, anatomical site and patterns of spread. The radiation therapist's responsibility in the management of neoplastic disease will be presented and discussed.

RX-4540 - Quality Management in Radiation Oncology
2 credit hours (2 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4440
Reviews principles and guidelines of a quality management program in radiation oncology, incorporating clinical process, staff, records, equipment, and documentation that demonstrate patient care outcomes. In addition, the course emphasizes regulatory agencies and respective rules affecting the radiation oncology workplace, staff, and patients. The role of the radiation therapist in quality management is stressed.

RX-4550 - Clinical Practicum III
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4450
Co-requisite: RX-4500
Content and clinical practice experiences shall be designed for sequential development, application, analysis, integration, synthesis and evaluation of concepts and theories in radiation therapy. Clinical practice experiences shall be designed to provide care to the patient in the therapeutic setting for simulation, treatment planning and administration of a prescribed course of treatment. Levels of competency and outcomes measurement shall assure the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following delivery of radiation therapy treatment and services. Through structured assignments in clinical facilities, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development shall be discussed, examined and evaluated. Continuation of RX-4450, Clinical Practicum II.

RX-4630 - Radiation Oncology Patient Care
2 credit hours (2 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisites: HS 1120, HS 2200, HS 3131, & RX 4200, or Program Chair’s consent
This course introduces the student to the roles and responsibilities of the radiation therapist in meeting the general nursing needs of the patient undergoing radiotherapy. The student will be provided with foundation concepts and competencies in assessment and evaluation of the patient for service delivery. Psychological and physical needs and factors affecting treatment outcomes will be presented and examined. Routine and emergency care procedures will be presented. Class demonstrations/labs and projects are focused on clinical applications.

RX-4640 - Clinical Dosimetry II
2 credit hours (2 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4540
Co-requisite: RX-4650
Focus is directed on clinical dosimetry and treatment planning for radiation oncology special procedures. Emphasis is placed on how each special procedure impacts planning, treatment, and quality assurance for the radiation oncology patient.

RX-4650 - Clinical Practicum IV
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4550
Co-requisite: RX-4640
Content and clinical practice experiences shall be designed for sequential development, application, analysis, integration, synthesis and evaluation of concepts and theories in radiation therapy. Clinical practice experiences shall be designed to provide care to the patient in the therapeutic setting for simulation, treatment planning and administration of a prescribed course of treatment. Levels of competency and outcomes measurement shall assure the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following delivery of radiation therapy treatment and services. Through structured assignments in clinical facilities, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development shall be discussed, examined and evaluated. Continuation of RX-4550, Clinical Practicum III.

RX-4660 - Radiation Biology and Hyperthermia
1 credit hour (1 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisites: RX-4310, RX-4440
The first unit of this course is designed to present basic concepts and principles of radiation biology. The interactions of radiation with cells, tissues and the body as a whole and resultant biophysical events will be presented. Discussion of the theories and principles of tolerance dose, time-dose relationships, fractionation schemes and the relationship to the clinical practice of radiation therapy will be discussed, examined and evaluated. Unit two will introduce the student to the history, biology and rationale of hyperthermia with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Heating equipment, methods of heating, and types of thermometry are also outlined as will as clinical application.

RX-4680 - Pathology in Radiation Therapy
3 credit hours (3 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisite: RX-4500
Co-requisite: RX-4750
This course introduces the student to the concept of disease. Normal cell structure and function is reviewed, as well as anticipated response to major classification of injuries. Basic mechanisms of induction, growth and spread of tumors are reviewed. The normal human tissue tolerances to radiation are described.

RX-4750 - Clinical Practicum V
1 credit hour (0 didactic/1 practicum)
Prerequisites: RX-4500, RX-4650
Co-requisites: RX-4680, RX-4900
Content and clinical practice experiences shall be designed for sequential development, application, analysis, integration, synthesis and evaluation of concepts and theories in radiation therapy. Clinical practice experiences shall be designed to provide care to the patient in the therapeutic setting for simulation, treatment planning and administration of a prescribed course of treatment. Levels of competency and outcomes measurement shall assure the well-being of the patient preparatory to, during and following delivery of radiation therapy treatment and services. Through structured assignments in clinical facilities, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development shall be discussed, examined and evaluated. Continuation of RX-4650, Clinical Practicum IV.

RX-4900 - Capstone in Radiation Therapy
1 credit hour (1 didactic/0 practicum)
Prerequisites: All radiation therapy and general education courses
Co-requisite: RX-4750
This course integrates previous knowledge and skills with significant, relevant issues and subjects in professional practice. Emphasizes professional role development of the new graduate and preparation for the national credentialing board exam.