Adv Practice Sonographer

UT Southwestern Medical Center•Dallas, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Sonographer (APS) functions as a physician extender under the delegated authority of supervising physicians. The role provides advanced clinical sonography services at Clements and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals and/or associated outpatient and clinic imaging centers. The APS reviews images, patient histories, prior reports and images, and examination protocols; provides scanning support for technically challenging examinations; and prepares draft reports for physician review. The role also supports advanced ultrasound procedures and techniques, quality assurance and improvement, staff onboarding and education, clinical research, and coordination among sonographers, physicians, administrators, and other stakeholders. The position requires independent professional and ethical judgment, patient-centered care, proficiency in general ultrasound and/or vascular examinations, and oversight of imaging quality and equipment performance. The APS works with supervising physicians to maintain quality patient care, supports protocol development and accreditation, and performs additional services delegated by the supervising physician within the employee’s education, training, and facility policies. The work environment is described as an office setting. Salary is commensurate with education, skills, and relevant experience.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in biology, physiology, or another related field.
Six years of full-time clinical ultrasound experience, including at least three years performing advanced procedures.
Extensive clinical experience providing sonography services and demonstrated ability to mentor and support staff sonographers.
Demonstrated proficiency with computer skills and software used for imaging viewing and interpretation, documentation, and report generation.
Registration with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography upon hire.
Advanced certification in abdominal, neurological, vascular, obstetrics and gynecology, or another area of specialization as dictated by the unit or standard of care, upon hire.
Basic Life Support course accredited by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, prior to hire and/or placement in the job.
Maintain proficiency in at least three advanced ultrasound techniques, such as peripheral vascular, 3D ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastography, or musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Attend faculty-led ultrasound-specific lectures, journal clubs, and staff meetings.
Attend 50% of ultrasound quality improvement and clinical journal club meetings.
Attend other conferences as necessary to stay current with ultrasound practices.
Maintain 10 continuing medical education hours per year.
Proficiency in general ultrasound and/or vascular examinations.
Ability to apply independent professional and ethical judgment and critical thinking in sonography practice.
Ability to read, interpret, and report ultrasound examinations.
Ability to ensure patient safety, follow applicable protocols, and work within the scope of practice and facility policies.
Ability to communicate effectively and build collaborative working relationships with sonographers, physicians, administrators, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Review ultrasound images with sonographers for appropriateness, image quality, and protocol completion.
Review patient clinical history and prior relevant reports and images to support complete documentation and appropriate examination billing.
Provide scanning assistance for technically challenging or complicated examinations; authorize patient release or perform rescanning to resolve diagnostic questions.
Provide real-time quality assurance feedback and coordinate department-level quality improvement initiatives.
Synthesize examination results and prepare draft reports using departmental dictation or reporting systems.
Assist with onboarding new sonographers and educating trainees and other learners.
Communicate new service lines and protocol changes to ultrasound staff and providers.
Participate in advanced techniques, including contrast-enhanced, 3D, and musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Coordinate guided procedures and locate relevant patient history and laboratory values.
Facilitate clinical and translational research activities.
Perform additional advanced sonography services or delegated tasks, such as peripheral intravenous line placement, contrast injection, endocavitary ultrasound, and 3D ultrasound, consistent with training and facility protocols.
Demonstrate patient-centered behaviors and assume responsibility for patient safety in the ultrasound department.
Perform general ultrasound and/or vascular examinations, using independent professional and ethical judgment and critical thinking to accurately capture anatomical, pathological, and clinical conditions.
Ensure examination orders are complete, include relevant clinical information, and meet medical-necessity standards; acquire additional images as needed for diagnostic quality.
Read, interpret, and report ultrasound examinations within the position’s scope and responsibilities.
Follow professional and ethical standards and applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; refer diagnostic, treatment, or prognosis questions to an appropriate physician or healthcare professional unless authorized otherwise.
Ensure ultrasound equipment functions accurately, troubleshoot quality-control issues, and support patient safety and high image quality.
Conduct examinations according to infectious disease, sterilization, and patient safety protocols.
Train sonographers in new equipment features, benefits, and scanning techniques.
Oversee advanced ultrasound techniques, including 3D ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastography, peripheral vascular Doppler, and musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Perform post-processing of 3D data for volumetric and multiplanar assessment.
Document incidental findings that may affect patient safety or care and communicate them to the interpreting physician and/or ordering provider.
Identify and document examination limitations; maintain accurate reports, database records, and logs.
Provide oversight of imaging quality within the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).
Oversee quality assurance by monitoring sonographer scanning capabilities, accuracy, protocol completeness, and technique before findings are released for interpretation.
Work with the supervising physician to support quality patient care and function as a technical or clinical sonography leader or expert.
Develop examination-reporting templates and create descriptive preliminary reports for radiologist review and finalization.
Create, oversee, and implement scanning protocols and quality-control activities that support patient care and outcomes, workflow, and cost-effective imaging.
Provide rescanning support to staff sonographers when appropriate and ensure appropriate accreditation is secured and maintained.
Serve as a liaison among sonographers, radiology faculty, imaging service lines, hospital and department administration, and the clinical research office.
Build collaborative working relationships, communicate effectively, problem-solve, and support a busy clinical service.
Assist with education and training for sonography students, medical students, residents, and/or radiology physician trainees.
Maintain proficiency in at least three advanced ultrasound techniques and attend required lectures, journal clubs, staff meetings, quality-improvement meetings, and other conferences.
Maintain 10 CME hours per year.

Benefits

PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage.
100% coverage for preventive healthcare with no copay.
Paid Time Off, available day one.
Retirement programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).
Paid Parental Leave Benefit.
Wellness programs.
Tuition reimbursement.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer.
Healthcare benefits.
Paid holidays.
On-site childcare.
Wage and merit increases.