Echo / Vascular Sonographer I

Baptist Health•Alabaster, AL

About The Position

Provides quality patient care while performing diagnostic cardiology and/or vascular sonographic imaging and related procedures to demonstrate anatomy for interpretation and/or intervention. The role works under the supervision of a department supervisor, manager, or director and receives instruction and direction from more senior sonographers. The sonographer performs routine assignments using established procedure guidelines and applies conceptual knowledge of relevant theories, practices, and procedures. The position involves assessing patients’ physical conditions and age-specific needs; obtaining and documenting clinical history; positioning patients and equipment; acquiring and evaluating diagnostic images; and ensuring image quality, appropriate annotation, and identification. The sonographer works closely with cardiologists and other healthcare team members, exercises professional judgment, follows applicable regulations and quality-control standards, and provides appropriate patient care. Additional duties include supporting student and new-sonographer orientation, workflow, quality and safety initiatives, documentation, clerical work, equipment and work-area upkeep, patient transport, and other departmental needs. Work at any Baptist Health facility, after-hours work, and call shifts may be required. Contrast administration and IV insertion or removal may also be required when relevant to the department.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of sonography.
Meet education and training requirements under applicable current ARDMS and/or CCI guidelines, depending on the assigned department.
Able to perform routine echocardiology exams, including 2-D and M-Mode echocardiography, and/or vascular sonography exams, including 2-D and M-Mode imaging, Color Flow and Spectral Doppler, Carotid Ultrasound, Venous Doppler of upper and lower extremities, and Arterial Duplex of upper and lower extremities.
Knowledge of sonography equipment operation and maintenance.
Within the first six months of hire, demonstrate competency in at least three listed ECHO and/or vascular exams: 3-D, Strain, Exercise Stress Echocardiography, Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography, TAVR, Mitral Clip, Complex Valve, Watchman, Post Processing, Contrast Studies, Agitated Saline Studies, Transesophageal (TEE), Surgical TEE, Simple Cardiac Shunts, Venous Insufficiency, Visceral, Segmental Physiology Upper Extremity, Access Grafts, Hemodialysis Access, Venous Ablation Procedures, Ultrasound Guidance, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Temporal Artery, or Transcranial Imaging.
Maintain current BLS/HealthCare Provider certification.
Maintain an accepted credential: RDMS in fetal echocardiography or RDCS through ARDMS; RCS, ACS, or RCCS through CCI; or RVT through ARDMS or RVS through CCI. Alternatively, become registered through ARDMS and/or CCI guidelines within 12 months of hire.

Responsibilities

Perform routine noninvasive and/or invasive cardiology and/or vascular ultrasound diagnostic examinations and operate and maintain equipment.
Recognize normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology while obtaining and documenting relevant clinical and diagnostic information.
Work with cardiologists to perform diagnostic sonographic examinations and function independently when a supervisor or manager is absent.
Exercise professional judgment and provide appropriate patient care while recognizing patient conditions and supporting successful completion of procedures.
Comply with state and federal regulations, Baptist Health policies, mission statements, and standards of practice.
Assess patients’ physical conditions and age-specific needs; provide instructions to promote cooperation and desired results.
Verify patient identity, obtain clinical history, and accurately document information, including verbal and telephone physician orders.
Position patients, equipment, and associated devices and adjust technical factors to obtain high-quality diagnostic images.
Evaluate images for technical quality, annotation, patient identification, and demonstration of relevant anatomy.
Follow quality-control standards and participate in quality-control tasks and quality and safety initiatives.
Administer medical aid in emergencies and use standard precautions and personal protective equipment to prevent cross-contamination.
Use Baptist Health computer systems accurately and effectively and ensure customer safety.
Communicate effectively with healthcare team members.
Participate in supervising student sonographers, orienting new sonographers, and directing daily workflow.
Maintain regular, punctual attendance and comply with applicable attendance standards and Baptist Health policies and procedures.
Assist with patient transport and clerical tasks, including printing reports, scanning documents, and scheduling patients.
Follow image-processing and interpretation standards; maintain clean, stocked, and organized work areas and equipment.
Work at any Baptist Health facility and perform other departmental duties as needed; work after hours or call shifts when required.
Assist with contrast administration and IV insertion or removal for diagnostic contrast medication when pertinent to the department.