Radiation Therapy

Technical Standards for Matriculation, Retention, and Graduation for Radiation Therapy

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (B.H.S.) degree, with a major in radiation therapy from the Baptist Health Sciences University indicates the holder is prepared to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiation Therapy (T) certification examination. Additional requirements for licensure may be required by the state in which a graduate practices. Therefore, all applicants and matriculated students must possess certain essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the B.H.S. degree that consist of certain minimum physical and cognitive abilities and emotional characteristics. This is to ensure that candidates for admission, matriculation, and graduation are able to complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of medical training, with or without reasonable accommodations. 

To be qualified for the B.H.S. degree, subsequent certification, state licensure (where applicable), and employment as a Radiologic Technologist in Therapy (Radiation Therapist) the candidate must demonstrate competency in five requisite areas: observation and sensory; communication; motor; intellectual-conceptual; and behavioral and social attributes. Students are required to demonstrate said competencies to provide safe and effective medical care in a wide variety of clinical environments.

The Baptist Health Sciences University Radiation Therapy program is committed to the admission and matriculation of qualified students and does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, creed, or religion. Candidates with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations if needed to meet these technical standards by following the University policies and procedures and contacting Access Services. A candidate must be able to perform these outlined technical standards in an independent manner. 

The national board examinations for radiation therapy may have more stringent technical standards than outlined in this document. 

Students who accept an offer of admission from the Radiation Therapy program will be required to sign an affirmation regarding compliance with the technical standards. Should a student's ability to meet the technical standards change at any point in the academic program, it is the responsibility of the student to report this to the Program Chair and Access Services.

Observation and Sensory

Candidates must be able to acquire a defined level of information in both the clinical and didactic settings. Candidates and students must be able to obtain information from demonstrations and experiments in the biomedical and basic sciences. Students must be able to assess a patient and evaluate findings accurately. Radiation treatment equipment requires the student has the ability to see the visual display and the manual dexterity to align the patient and set equipment position for the delivery of therapeutic radiation.  The student must be able to perform in the low-light setting of the clinical treatment room.  Students must have the auditory ability to detect and respond to alarms, emergency signals, and cries for help from the patient.  The student must be able to monitor the patient visually and auditorily from the closed circuit monitor outside the treatment room.  The observation and information acquisition noted above will require candidates to have functional use of visual, auditory and touch sensations or the functional equivalent. 

Communication

A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, detect and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; perceive nonverbal communications; and establish a therapeutic relationship. A candidate must be easily understood, be able to respectfully communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively with patients, their families, faculty, peers and all other members of the health care team. Communication includes speech, reading and writing or the functional equivalent.

Motor

Candidates must, after a reasonable period of training, possess the physical ability, flexibility, strength and stamina sufficient to provide safe and effective care.  They must be able to respond to clinical situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency care. Students continuously engage in standing, walking, carrying objects, pushing/pulling, twisting, bending, reaching forward and overhead, and wrist position deviation. Such actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision or the functional equivalent.

Intellectual - Conceptual

Candidates must possess proficient measurement, calculation, reasoning, and analysis skills. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of healthcare professionals, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates and students must be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships, to understand and be able to work within the spatial relationships of structures. They must have the intellectual capability to increase their fund of information and knowledge base through various media as well as from course materials, scheduled conferences, lectures, lab practicum, current literature and journals; and to make appropriate evaluations of clinical circumstances. Analytical problem-solving skills are critical in medicine and candidates must be able to perform in a timely manner, tasks utilizing such skills. The practice of radiation therapy implies the protection and safety of patients, not just the ability to pass preparatory examinations. Healthcare professionals are responsible for those in their care and must demonstrate the ability to rapidly process information, make decisions, and perform the appropriate interventions. Certain personal characteristics are expected of a healthcare professional. These include integrity, compassion, interpersonal skills, and motivation.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Students must exercise good judgment and act professionally, complete all responsibilities promptly and effectively, attend to the care of patients while maintaining mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. Students must be able to function effectively under stressful conditions, adapt to changing environments, and function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the clinical care of patients. Compassion, integrity, empathy, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the educational process. Candidates and students must display flexibility and a spirit of cooperation with faculty, classmates, and colleagues.  Candidates must be able serve (in an appropriate manner), all persons in need of assistance, regardless of the person's age, class, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation (or lack thereof), gender identification, ability, sexual orientation, and value system.

Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities 

Following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable laws, Baptist Health Sciences University provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified students with verified disabilities. An accommodation will not be provided if it would result in the fundamental alteration of the university’s programs, services or activities, or if it would impose undue financial or administrative burdens on the University. The office that assists students with disabilities at Baptist Health Sciences University is Access Services.

Additional information about Baptist Health Sciences University’s services for students with disabilities may be found at https://www.baptistu.edu. If student circumstances should change related to these technical standards, the student will promptly notify the Radiation Therapy Program Chair and Access Services if reasonable accommodations are required at any point. 

Radiation Therapy Program Mission Statement

The Radiation Therapy program will graduate competent, entry-level radiation therapists to become members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, providing empathetic care and therapeutic treatment to those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Radiation Therapy Program Goals and Outcomes for the 22/23 Assessment Plan

Goal 1. Graduates/students of the radiation therapy program will be clinically competent.

1.1 Students will show Affective & Psychomotor learning in the clinical setting.

1.2 Students will show Cognitive learning in clinical oncology courses.

Goal 2. Graduates/students of the radiation therapy program will communicate effectively

2.1 Student will demonstrate effective oral communication.

2.2 Student will demonstrate effective written communication. 

Goal 3. Graduates/students of the radiation therapy program will be able to problem solve and critically think

3.1 Students will demonstrate problem-solving abilities through the use of tests to verify concept retention.

3.2 Students will demonstrate critical thinking through the use of tests to show the ability to work out issues and resolutions with different therapy scenarios.

Goal 4. Graduates/students of the radiation therapy program will demonstrate professionalism.

4.1 Students will demonstrate professionalism through daily clinical record keeping and procedures logged.

4.2 Student will demonstrate professionalism by meeting clinical performance expectations of affective behavior.   

Accreditation for Students