- Educate patients and families regarding the disease, diagnostic procedures needed and goals of treatment with radiation therapy.
- Educate patients and families and manage the symptoms and side effects from radiation treatments (e.g., use of medications, dietary changes, activity changes, skin care, oral care)
- Assess patients psychosocial issues (home situation, availability of support, past coping mechanisms, financial concerns, work status, etc.)
- Coordinate care for patients receiving multimodality treatment (schedules for patients, dates of surgery, radiation, imaging, etc.)
- Counsel on specific issues of concern (sexuality, end-of-life issues).
- Refer patients (as needed) for social work, psychiatry.
- Provide skin care (sprays/irrigations, application of skin care products, dressing changes).
- Assist with various procedures (physical exams, simulations, brachytherapy).
- Monitor patients receiving treatment (conscious sedation, brachytherapy, anesthesia).
- Develop policies, procedures, and standards of care as it pertains to Radiation Oncology.
- Assess symptoms at weekly treatment/status check visits.
- Assess for long term effects at follow up visits.
- Administer medication (pain medication, IV contrast) as ordered.
- Refer as needed for nutrition, enterostomal therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy.
- Participates in Oncology Committee Meetings.
- Develop patient education materials.
- Provide statistics for department as needed.
- Collect blood and urine specimens.
- Participate in managing supplies and equipment.
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