Schedule: Mon-Thurs 8a-430p; Fri 730a-4p (No weekend, holidays, call)

Job Summary

• Must be flexible with work hours to meet department needs
• Must be dependable, accountable and cooperative
• Assists with providing safe, age-appropriate care to the patient by performing all exams provided by the department per department protocols
• Has the knowledge and ability to properly and safely obtain a quality diagnostic study
• Responsible for performing a wide variety of technical procedures requiring independent judgment, ingenuity and initiative in the utilization of equipment for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases
• Able to independently perform job functions
• Sets up the equipment to provide imaging service and positions patients for the procedure

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Patient Care

• Verifies proper clinician order for procedure
• Obtains complete clinical history, gathers examination data and assesses for contraindicating conditions
• Follows established procedures for the administration of contrast medias so that no patient condition deteriorates, and no patient suffers undue pain, due to error or poor technique
• Ensures that all studies have proper patient identification and right and left marker are utilized appropriately
• Reviews ultrasound images for clinically acceptable results and releases patients
• Responds to emergency situations and provides for the restocking of the crash cart and maintenance of life support equipment
• Assists other technologists in all modalities when needed
• Observes patient condition and properly evaluates situations when physician intervention is necessary so that no patient condition deteriorates
• Verifies correct identity of patient using 2 unique identifiers prior to performing a procedure per hospital policy and procedure
• Ensures patient's privacy and comfort is accommodated. Maintains patients dignity throughout the exam/procedure
• Demonstrates competence in the determination and application of appropriate procedures, equipment, supplies and techniques based on the age of patients
• Organizes schedule, time and priorities so that required activities are accomplished within designated time frames
• Follows physicians instructions when assisting with procedures and exams
• Demonstrates proficiency with loading and operating power injection
• Uses critical thinking skills
• Dialogs with patient/family
• Asks clarifying questions
• Seeks clarification on ambiguous orders
• Understands, demonstrates and documents preprocedural verification and Time Out process when appropriate
• Demonstrates and understands pre-and-post procedural care
• Preps the patient for the procedure
• Demonstrates and understands sterile technique
• Ability to perform all Vascular Ultrasound exams

Education and Communication

• Patiently and clearly explains purpose and nature of exam to patient prior to starting of procedure, so as to minimize anxiety and facilitate cooperation using AIDET; Acknowledge, Introduce, Discuss, Explain, and Thank you of all patients and family members
• Ensures that patient's questions, concerns or contraindications are satisfactorily addressed, notifying physician when this cannot be accomplished, prior to the initiation of the procedure
• Participates in the orientation and training of departmental employees
• Provides patients with preparatory instruction and explanation of procedures
• Required documentation is concise, legible and includes precise terminology
• Reads email each day scheduled to work and follows through with assignment
• Completes mandatory departmental and Hospital-wide education without prompting

Quality Control

• Consistently produces acceptable images, as evidenced by radiologist feedback and quality audits, with a first time acceptance rate
• Ensures that equipment is fully operational prior to each use, by checking for proper calibration and operating deficiencies
• Sends all studies to PACS immediately after completion, prints CDs as needed
• Studies that have been reported after hours by teleradiography are printed and scanned into PACS, if applicable
• Completes all studies in RIS before completing in PACS
• Prints completed log sheet from teleradiography and submits to Radiologist, if applicable
• Performs and maintains quality control logs for probe disinfection and follows infection control policies

Operations

• Restocks linens and supplies, and maintains the department in clean and orderly condition
• Transports patients, positions patients, and helps them on and off procedure table
• Performs patient charging activities on the day the service is rendered
• Applies shielding, supportive and immobilization devices and equipment
• Willingly lends knowledge and assistance to others upon request as needed and routinely as time is available, without prompting, so that all working time is used for departmental advantage
• Performs routine duties of clerical and support personnel in accordance with procedure when warranted to ensure continuity and quality of services
• Keeps supervisor informed on all responsibilities on an ongoing basis, ensuring prompt notification in the event of problems or potential problems
• Maintains an individual productivity rate equal to other co-workers
• Ability to operate all work stations associated with the US department
• Ability to push / retrieve images from the Ultrasound console to PACS
• Maintain Joint Commission standards and any other regulatory agency standards
• Takes call when necessary
• Any other duties as assigned

Equipment

• Demonstrates the ability to adjust technique so that patient receives the lowest possible dose of ionizing radiation and that image quality is maintained
• Reports problems regarding malfunctioning equipment to supervisor or service provider, so that problem can be corrected in a timely manner
• Cleans, disinfects and maintains equipment in accordance with infection control policy and department cleaning schedule

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct

Required Minimum Education

• Associates Radiologic Technology or Other / Certificate Radiologic Technology or Bachelors Radiologic Technology-Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

• All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated
• BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support or BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor
• RCS - Reg Cardiac Sonographer - CCI or ARDMS - Registered Medical Sonographer or ARRT-S - ARRT Sonography or RDMS - Reg Diagnostic Med Sonographer

Additional License(s) and Certification(s)
 

Required Minimum Experience

• Successful completion of a Sonography Training Program Required
• Minimum 1 year clinical experience Required

Required Minimum Skills

• Must exhibit excellent communication skills because this position requires frequent verbal and written communications with: physicians, patients, visitors, departmental staff and nursing staff
• The employee obtains, presents and discusses clinical information regarding job responsibilities on a routine basis
• Candidate must be able to explain or give directions to maintain goodwill and obtain cooperation with all contacts
• Must possess the ability to function independently and under pressure while still actively participating in a team environment
• Position requires the employee to exhibit excellent customer service skills at all times
• Must be able to perform effectively in a stressful and fast-paced work environment
• Must have the ability to prioritize appropriately
• Must be detail-oriented and have the capacity to effectively multitask throughout the work shift
• Must have excellent communication skills and the capacity to interact professionally with a variety of customers, including but not limited to patients, families, co-workers, volunteers, and physicians throughout the work shift
• Must possess the ability to function independently, yet productively as a cooperative team member with various work teams associated with the position
• Must be compliant, with a willingness to follow all Hospital policies as well as the established practices, protocols and procedures of the position, department and applicable professional standards
• Must be flexible with work hours to meet department needs
• Must be dependable, accountable and cooperative
• Assists with providing safe, age-appropriate care to the patient by performing all exams provided by the department per department procedures
• Has the knowledge and ability to properly and safely obtain a quality diagnostic study
• Responsible for performing a wide variety of technical procedures requiring independent judgment, ingenuity and initiative in the utilization of equipment for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases
• Able to independently perform job functions
• Sets up the equipment to provide imaging service and positions patient for the procedure
• Competent in all aspects of Ultrasound, patient positioning, exposure factors
• Must understand anatomy and pathology and how they affect the quality of a procedure