Your Care Team
CARTI prides itself on the level of care provided to all patients and the family members and loved ones who support them. Your care team consists of CARTI doctors and employees who have dedicated their careers to making a difference in the lives of the patients they treat.
All care team members at CARTI are licensed and board certified. With a retention rate of 93%, CARTI's staff brings patients and their families an unmatched level of expertise.
Radiation Oncologists
Radiation oncologists are the doctors who oversee the care of each cancer patient undergoing radiation treatment. They develop and prescribe each cancer patient's treatment plan, make sure that every treatment is accurately given, and monitor the patient's progress and adjust treatment to make sure patients get quality care throughout treatment. Radiation oncologists also help identify and treat any side effects of radiation therapy. They work closely with other physicians, and all members of the radiation oncology team. Radiation oncologists have completed four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of general medical training, then four years of residency (specialty) training in radiation oncology. They have extensive training in the safe use of radiation to treat cancer. Click here to read more about our physicians.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists work with radiation oncologists and administer the daily radiation treatment under the doctor's prescription and supervision. They maintain daily records and regularly check the treatment machines to make sure they are working properly. Radiation therapists go through a two-to-four year educational program following high school or college.
Nurses
Nurses work with the radiation team to care for patients during the course of treatment. They help evaluate the patient before treatment begins. Nurses may talk to the patient about potential side effects and their management. During the course of radiation treatments patients may be evaluated weekly, or more frequently by the nurse to assess problems and concerns. Nurses play a key role in educating the patient about treatment, side effects, etc. Radiation oncology nurses are registered nurses licensed to practice professional nursing. Most nurses in radiation therapy have additional accreditation in the specialty of oncology nursing.
Physicists
Qualified medical physicists work directly with the doctor in the treatment planning and delivery. They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored for each patient. Qualified medical physicists are responsible for developing and directing quality control programs for equipment and procedures. They are responsible for making sure the equipment works properly. Medical radiation physicists take precise measurements of radiation beam characteristics and do other safety tests on a regular basis. Qualified medical physicists have doctorates or master's degrees. Qualified medical physicists have completed four years of college. They also have had two to four years of graduate school and typically one to two years of clinical physics training.
Dosimetrists
Dosimetrists carefully calculate the dose of radiation to make sure the tumor gets enough radiation. They develop a number of treatment plans that can best destroy the tumor while sparing the normal tissues. Many of these treatment plans are very complex. Dosimetrists work with the doctor and the medical physicist to choose the treatment plan that is just right for each patient. Many dosimetrists start as radiation therapists, then, with very intensive training, become dosimetrists. Others are graduates of one-to-two-year dosimetry programs.
Patient Resource Services
CARTI's patient resource staff it available to provide practical help and referral information to patients and members of their families. They can help a patient and family members cope. They also may help arrange for home assistance,assistance with transportation and housing, and other services. Each new CARTI patient has the opportunity to meet with a member of the patient resource staff during the course of their treatment.
