HealthcareO*NET: 29-1124.00
Will AI Replace Radiation Therapists?
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
33out of 100
Low Risk
AI Risk Score
33/100
Risk Level
Low
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
19
🤖 What AI Can Do
- â–¸Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- â–¸Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
- â–¸Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
- â–¸Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
- â–¸Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
- â–¸Check for side effects, such as skin irritation, nausea, or hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
👤 What Requires Humans
- â–¸Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- â–¸Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
- â–¸Prepare or construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, or protection devices.
- â–¸Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (10)
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
- Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
- Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
- Check for side effects, such as skin irritation, nausea, or hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
- Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
- Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.
- Photograph treated area of patient and process film.
- Schedule patients for treatment times.
👤Requires Humans (4)
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
- Prepare or construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, or protection devices.
- Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
âš¡AI-Assisted (5)
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care personnel.
- Provide assistance to other healthcare personnel during dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Key Skills Analysis
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.25/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Radiation Therapists have a low risk of AI replacement with a score of 33/100. This role requires significant human skills like creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making that AI cannot easily replicate.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research