ASRT survey shows radiation therapist vacancy rates decline
The 2007 Radiation Therapy Staffing Survey, conducted by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), shows that the vacancy rate for radiation therapists has been declining in recent years and is now in the single digits at 5.4 percent.
This current percentage is slightly lower than the vacancy rate for other radiation oncology professionals.
The survey results showed that the typical facility reported a 2007 budget providing for slightly more than five full-time radiation therapists, 1.5 medical dosimetrists, 1.1 medical physicists, 1.9 radiation oncologists, 1.9 nurses and 2.4 administrative staff positions. The survey showed that the budget provided for almost no physician assistants.
Half of the respondents said their facilities were located in a community hospital; 34 percent were located in free-standing clinics; and nearly 9 percent were located in university medical centers.
Nearly all the facilities provided conformal radiation therapy delivery and 75 to 95 percent of them provided CT simulation, brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy.
This current percentage is slightly lower than the vacancy rate for other radiation oncology professionals.
The survey results showed that the typical facility reported a 2007 budget providing for slightly more than five full-time radiation therapists, 1.5 medical dosimetrists, 1.1 medical physicists, 1.9 radiation oncologists, 1.9 nurses and 2.4 administrative staff positions. The survey showed that the budget provided for almost no physician assistants.
Half of the respondents said their facilities were located in a community hospital; 34 percent were located in free-standing clinics; and nearly 9 percent were located in university medical centers.
Nearly all the facilities provided conformal radiation therapy delivery and 75 to 95 percent of them provided CT simulation, brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy.