Radiation Therapy Staffing Rates Remain Stable

Staffing rates for radiation therapy facilities have remained relatively stable within the past two years, according to the 2009 ASRT Radiation Therapy Staffing Survey.

The survey focused on medical facilities that employ full-time radiation therapists. Facilities with a 2009 budget for radiation therapists reported having 4.97 full-time therapists on staff, down only slightly when compared to the 2007 survey, which reported 5.20 full-time therapists.

"It is very interesting to see that despite the downturn in the economy, the number of open full-time employee positions for therapists and dosimetrists has remained relatively steady over the past two years," said Myke Kudlas, ASRT's vice president of education and research. "This may represent regional differences in demand, a trend we have seen in many imaging specialties."

The survey also showed the vacancy rate for radiation therapists has slightly increased to 7.6 percent from 5.4 percent in 2007.

source: ASRT