Cardiac Sonographer, West Campus, 10K Bonus

UT Southwestern Medical Center • Dallas, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for facilitating patient throughput and enhancing patient satisfaction with the testing process. The Cardiac Sonographer will review physician's orders, identify patients, explain procedures, and ensure patient privacy. They will also be responsible for transporting patients if necessary. The role involves reviewing patient charts for relevant history and clinical diagnosis, recognizing significant clinical information, and positioning patients optimally for test results. The Cardiac Sonographer will utilize appropriate equipment, monitor patients for complications, and promptly notify medical staff of any changes in patient status. Accurate recording of measurements, mathematical calculations, and data entry are essential. The position requires the ability to perform various ultrasound procedures, including Cardiac Doppler, Color Flow Doppler, Two Dimensional Echo, Tran esophageal Echo, pharmacological echo studies, and stress echo, and to learn new modalities as they become available. The Cardiac Sonographer must provide the best possible image quality, delineate normal and abnormal findings, and notify physicians of findings requiring immediate clinical response. Responsibilities also include archiving and retrieving studies, proper care and use of digital echo systems, troubleshooting minor system problems, and ensuring timely finalization of reports. The role involves logging all procedures for charging purposes and ensuring logs are provided to the Cardiology Office. The Cardiac Sonographer assumes accountability for all actions, promptly reports errors, and takes appropriate follow-up action. They will act as a patient/family advocate, respond effectively to complaints, and utilize the chain of command to resolve issues. Participation in performance improvement activities, attending staff meetings and mandatory educational sessions, and working cooperatively with all staff are also key aspects of the role. Duties may involve direct patient care, interaction with human-subjects research participants, or managing patient/research records.

Requirements

• Current ARDMS registry in Adult Echocardiography -or- Successful completion of an ultrasound or cardiovascular technology program which includes verified didactic & supervised clinical experience in Echocardiography.
• These programs should be accredited by either the commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Candian Medical Association (CMA).
• These programs should be accredited by either the commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or
• (CMA) CERT MEDICAL ASSISTANT
• (ARDMS) AMER REGIS DIAG MED SONO New hires will be required to pass the ARDMS Upon Hire or
• (CCI) CREDENTIALNG CARDIOVASCLR INTL credentialing exam within one year of employment Upon Hire
• (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) Upon Hire

Nice To Haves

• 1 year cardiovascular sonography experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates patient throughput and enhances patient satisfaction with testing process.
• Checks computer for new orders, reviews physician's orders on patient's chart.
• Identifies patients via two methods.
• Explains procedure to be done.
• Protects patient's privacy.
• Notifies Transport in a timely fashion, if unavailable, tech will transport patient.
• Reviews patient chart to include patient's history and clinical diagnosis.
• Recognizes significant clinical information and historical facts, which may affect the echo study, from patient interview and medical record.
• Positions patient to optimize quality of test results.
• Utilizes appropriate transducers/equipment as required during performance of procedure.
• Watches the patient for signs or symptoms of possible complications and/or other intolerances.
• Promptly notifies nurse/physician of changes in patient status.
• Records all measurements.
• Does mathematical calculations accurately; calculates mathematical and algebraic functions.
• Enters correct patient information.
• Demonstrates the ability to accurately perform ultrasound procedures including but not limited to Cardiac Doppler, Color Flow Doppler, Two Dimensional Echo, Tran esophageal Echo, pharmacological echo studies, stress echo.
• Learns new modalities as they become available.
• Provides best image quality within the limitations imposed by available resources.
• Delineates normal and abnormal anatomic structures, physiology and hemodynamics.
• Recognizes examination findings that may require immediate clinical response and notifies the interpreting physician or other appropriate physician.
• Archives and retrieves studies.
• Provides proper care and use of digital echo system, including all transducers and probes, according to manufacturers suggestions.
• Checks bi-weekly to ensure that all studies have been read and finalized, notifying the reading cardiologist and the Medical Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology of delinquent reports.
• Troubleshoots minor problems and contacts appropriate HIS coordinator for system problems.
• Logs all procedures for charging purposes, and ensures that the Cardiology Office receives log prior to the end of the day.
• Assumes accountability for all actions in the workplace.
• Reports errors promptly and takes appropriate follow-up action to rectify the error.
• Effective patient/family advocate.
• Responds to patient's and/or patients family's complaints in an appropriate and effective manner.
• Reports complaints to the Manager or their designee in a timely manner.
• Utilizes the chain of command appropriately to resolve patient, operational, or personal work related problems.
• Participates in performance improvement activities as directed.
• Attends at least 80%25 of scheduled staff meetings and attends 100%25 of mandatory educational sessions.
• Works cooperatively with all staff and supports staff new to the environment.
• Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.

Benefits

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree