Cardiovascular Sonographer - PRN

Bronson Healthcare•Paw Paw, MI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision and according to established procedures, conducts echocardiograms that produce two-dimensional ultrasonic recordings and Doppler flow analyses of the heart and related structures for physician use in diagnosing heart and peripheral vascular disease. Performs patient care for people of all ages in critical and non-critical settings, and must demonstrate competencies specific to the populations served. The role may require travel between facilities and includes variable shifts, with 10 scheduled hours per week. The position performs transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress echocardiograms; prepares patients and confirms that the requested procedures are appropriate to their clinical history and symptoms. The sonographer acquires, measures, interprets, documents, and transmits diagnostic data according to laboratory protocols and department policies, recognizing abnormalities and urgent critical findings. Additional duties include following IV and sterile-technique policies, administering ultrasound enhancing agents, maintaining equipment and a safe work environment, keeping professional credentials current, and supporting quality assurance and accreditation activities.

Requirements

College-level coursework in echocardiography with extensive technical training or experience in anatomy and disease; an associate degree or bachelor's degree in echocardiography from an accredited college is preferred.
Must hold an RDCS, RVT, or CCI registry from ARDMS, or be registry-eligible and achieve registry within one year of placement in the job.
BLS required upon hire or within six months of hire.
Basic PC skills to operate departmental databases and office programs.
Ability to work and communicate with managers, employees, physicians, and customers served by the Cardiovascular Services Department.
Ability to work well in a small work group, communicate effectively with team members, handle conflict assertively, resolve issues diplomatically, and participate in problem-solving.
Must treat everyone professionally.
Ability to sustain alertness and concentration for interactive, repetitive, or detailed work, including operating and attending to a personal computer or CRT for 40 to 70 percent of the time.
Ability to regularly lift bulky or moderately heavy items up to 50 pounds and occasionally assist with heavier tasks or exert equivalent effort pushing, pulling, or handling materials, equipment, and other objects.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or bachelor's degree in echocardiography from an accredited college is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform transesophageal, stress, and transthoracic echocardiograms on patients of all ages in critical and non-critical settings.
Confirm that the requested procedure correlates with the patient's clinical history and symptoms, and that the clinical indication is appropriate.
Recognize abnormalities and obtain additional images as needed for diagnosis and treatment.
Perform tests according to laboratory protocols and guidelines, documenting exceptions.
Follow approved techniques and policies for IV insertion and management.
Obtain, prepare, and administer ultrasound enhancing agents according to policy and procedure.
Use sterile technique to prevent cross-contamination.
Familiarize patients with the test and its preparation, and obtain relevant information from patients and available clinical records.
Adjust equipment and move the transducer to acquire diagnostic images and Doppler data.
Differentiate artifacts from anatomic and pathologic structures, recognize the significance of visualized structures, and measure appropriate echocardiogram structures.
Measure cardiac wall thicknesses and chamber sizes, compare measurements with standard norms, and identify abnormalities according to laboratory protocols.
Measure blood-flow velocities and calculate data such as cardiac physiology and valve areas for physician interpretation.
Document and transmit pertinent diagnostic and patient data to the digital archive system, ensuring documentation is timely, accurate, and complete.
Recognize when examination findings require urgent notification of the appropriate healthcare provider.
Maintain a safe work environment and follow hospital and department policies for environmental safety, equipment maintenance, and equipment operation.
Maintain credentials relevant to the current discipline, complete required echo-specific continuing medical education, and adhere to IAC accrediting-body standards.
Participate in departmental quality assurance and assist with collecting and correlating data for accreditation.
Keep current in professional knowledge of vascular disease.
Perform minor preventive equipment maintenance and clean and stock labs.
Travel to different facilities if required.
For Bronson Methodist Hospital employees cross-training between adult and pediatric sonography, achieve pediatric echocardiography competency within six months of starting pediatric training; on-the-job pediatric training is provided and competency is determined by the CVS Technical Director.