Cardiac Sonographer - 24 Hours

Beth Israel Lahey Health•Needham, AL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director Outpatient Services and the Chief of Cardiology, this role ensures that testing procedures are performed according to clinic and department policy and standards. The Cardiac Sonographer performs noninvasive examinations involving the application of high frequency ultrasonic waves. This position is responsible for performing all testing procedures in the echocardiography, which include diagnostic m-mode, two-dimensional, spectral Doppler and color Doppler. They also perform diagnostic exercise/pharmacological stress echocardiograms, producing accurate clinical information for the cardiologist's diagnosis of cardiac medical disorders. The role may also involve performing TEE at the direction of a Cardiologist, preparing and administering contrast material, responding to Code Red, troubleshooting technical methods, ensuring a safe testing environment, and utilizing clinical and financial information systems. Accurate documentation in the medical record, test reports, and department logbooks is essential, as is entering patient information into EHR and interface systems. Effective communication, adaptability to various situations, and sterile reprocessing of TEE probes are also key aspects of this role. The Cardiac Sonographer collaborates with department supervisors and scheduling to ensure urgent testing is performed within the requested timeframe and performs bedside echocardiography on inpatient units. They query patients or review charts for pertinent history, communicate findings to reading physicians, and assist in training new staff and adapting new techniques. Determining study priority, revising schedules for urgent studies, and recognizing life-threatening abnormalities are critical. Monitoring supply inventory, maintaining equipment, and providing explanations of testing procedures are also part of the responsibilities. The role requires compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies, active participation in the compliance program, and incorporation of the organization's guiding principles and mission statement. Maintaining courteous interactions, understanding performance expectations, and demonstrating a commitment to customer service are also important. Participation in quality improvement activities and completion of mandatory education are expected. Performs all other duties as needed or directed to meet the needs of the department.

Requirements

Associate degree and/or graduate of an accredited echocardiography program or relevant clinical experience resulting in registry eligibility.
ARDMS/RDCS or CCI/RCS accreditation or accreditation eligible.
A one year grace period may be provided to candidates who have completed an accredited echocardiography program and provide documentation they took but did not pass the boards.
Minimum of one year of experience in echocardiography required.
AHA BLS certification required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Strong organizational and both written and verbal communication skills.
In depth knowledge of cardiac anatomy, and the ability to apply that knowledge to gather relevant information for diagnostic evaluation.
In the absence of any of these skills, demonstrates the ability to be thoroughly trained to meet organizational standards.
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age groups of patients regularly served; seeks assistance from resources if other age groups need care.

Responsibilities

Performs all testing procedures in the echocardiography, which include diagnostic m-mode, two-dimensional, spectral Doppler and color Doppler.
Performs diagnostic exercise/pharmacological stress echocardiograms.
Perform TEE at the direction of Cardiologist.
Prepares, administers & documents, all contrast material / injection information as required by policy.
Responsible for responding to Code Red as required.
Troubleshoots technical methods of echocardiography as necessary.
Ensures a safe testing environment in all daily operations.
Demonstrates ability to retrieve and send data utilizing the clinical and financial information systems.
Understands physician orders and appropriate documentation.
Ensures adequate documentation in the medical record, test report and in the department logbooks according to department policy and procedures.
Enter all necessary patient information into EHR and interface systems.
Communicates, orally and in writing, effectively to promote teamwork and team problem solving efforts.
Adapts to and works effectively in a variety of situations and settings, for example, special precautions disabled and dialysis patients.
Complete Sterile reprocessing of TEE probe in department.
In collaboration with department Supervisor and Cardiology scheduling, ensure all urgent testing is performed within requested time frame.
Perform bedside echocardiography on inpatient units.
Queries each patient or reviews each chart/ or on line medical record for pertinent history.
Communicates with reading physicians regarding all echocardiogram findings.
Assists in training new echocardiography staff and in adapting new techniques to the protocol; instructs techniques of echocardiography performance, utilization and interpretation to fellow, house officers, students and new colleagues.
Determines priority for requested studies and revises schedule as needed to perform urgent outpatient and emergency inpatient studies; recognizes important and life threatening abnormalities on the echocardiogram and calls them to the immediate attention of the director or physicians.
Monitors supply inventory and notifies manager to re-order; maintains equipment in clean, running order and notifies manager if equipment repair is warranted or if record vault network is malfunctioning
Provides appropriately explanation of prep for testing procedures, and demonstrates the ability to schedule all types of echo tests.
Complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, the policies and procedures of BID Needham and the standards of any relevant accrediting organizations; participates actively in and abides by the requirements and adheres to the standards of BID Needham’s compliance program.
Incorporates BID Needham’s Guiding Principles, Mission Statement and Goals into daily activities.
Complies with all BID Needham policies and procedures.
Maintains courteous and effective interactions with colleagues and patients.
Demonstrates an understanding of the job description, performance expectations, and competency assessment.
Demonstrates a commitment toward meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and consistently adheres to Customer Service standards.
Participates in departmental and/or interdepartmental quality improvement activities.
Participates in and successfully completes Mandatory Education, and maintains own educational records in support of credentialing requirements.
Performs all other duties as needed or directed to meet the needs of the department.