Sonographer

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 patient 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.

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 provider feedback and quality audits.
• 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 supportive and immobilization devices and equipment, if needed.
• 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION

• High School Diploma General or GED General.
• Trade School Diploma/Degree Diagnostic Medical Sonography‑Preferred.

REQUIRED MINIMUM LICENSE(S) AND CERTIFICATION(S)

• All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.
• ARDMS ‑ Registered Medical Sonographer or ARRT‑S ‑ ARRT Sonography.
• BLS ‑ Basic Life Support or ARC‑BLS ‑ Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support or BLS‑I ‑ Basic Life Support ‑ Instructor.

ADDITIONAL LICENSE(S) AND CERTIFICATION(S)

• None stated.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

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

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.