AFOMP's draft policy #2: "Recommended clinical radiation oncology medical physicist staffing levels in AFOMP countries"

Abstract

The AFOMP (Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics) Professional Development Committee (PDC) has been drafting of a set of policy statements which give recommendations and guidelines on issues such as the definitions on the roles and responsibility of medical physicists, their professional and quality standards, and the standard and structure of education and training of medical physicists. This policy statement, which is the second of a series of documents, outlines the official views of AFOMP on recommended clinical medical physicist staffing levels in radiation oncology departments. It aims to serve as a guideline or reference document for AFOMP organizations. The philosophy and rationale in defining suitable radiation oncology medical physicist staffing levels will be explained. Proposed recommended staffing guidelines include: Every radiation oncology department must employ at least one qualified clinical radiation oncology medical physicist as specified in AFOMP Policy Number 1. Every radiation oncology department must employ at least one qualified clinical radiation oncology medical physicist as specified in AFOMP Policy Number 1. The number of qualified medical physicists in a department must generally exceed the number of unqualified clinical radiation oncology medical physicist being trained within the department. Time must be provided for continuing professional development, teaching and training. Senior physicists must be provided with sufficient time to train and mentor trainee/junior/ registrar/resident physicists. Currently activity is focused on developing EFT-based guideline for departments. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.