MIT (Echocardiography)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Huntsville, AL

48d•Onsite

About The Position

The Echocardiography Technician (Intermittent position) has the intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function. They work in the Cardiology section of Patient Care Services at the Huntsville VA Clinic operating medical diagnostic equipment. This intermittent position may be expected to be available minimally 8 hours a month. Major duties include, but are not limited to:

Requirements

intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function
Ability to performs 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave Doppler and color flow exam.
Performs transthoracic examinations.
Performs stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals.
Knowledge of normal echocardiography findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.
Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic echocardiography, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography (invasive), stress echocardiography, and transesophogeal echocardiography.
Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.
Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure.
Ability to follow policy for sterilization process for TEE probes.
Ability to complete diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physician on all tours of duty with minimal or no direct supervision; coordinates appointments/ workload according to appropriateness of patients/ staffing.
Ability to accept verbal orders and record entries into the patient's medical record for the procedure performed.
Ability to manage Echocardiography images in Xcelera and copy to CD.
Visualization of all cardiac chambers, valves, and vessels, with appropriate structural and blood flow measurement, should be provided using a standardized protocol.
Echocardiography technologist must demonstrate proficiency in the performance of two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler(pulsed wave, continuous wave and color flow) echocardiographic diagnostic procedures.

Responsibilities

Ability to performs 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave Doppler and color flow exam.
Performs transthoracic examinations.
Performs stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals.
Assists physician of results of exam.
Receives patients, explains procedure and performs exam. Assist Cardiology Fellows in performing and interpreting echo exams. Independently setting, calibrating and operating of machinery.
Knowledge of normal echocardiography findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.
Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic echocardiography, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography (invasive), stress echocardiography, and transesophogeal echocardiography.
Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.
Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure.
Ability to follow policy for sterilization process for TEE probes.
Ability to complete diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physician on all tours of duty with minimal or no direct supervision; coordinates appointments/ workload according to appropriateness of patients/ staffing.
Ability to accept verbal orders and record entries into the patient's medical record for the procedure performed. The complying of data, revising reports and completing reports for physician review.
Ability to manage Echocardiography images in Xcelera and copy to CD.
Triages inpatient procedure request on a daily basis. Assist with Holter and Event monitoring placement and management at Huntsville locations.
Complete encounters on all Echos performed using the correct CPT codes, diagnosis, service connection status and other fields as required and assists management in overall encounter practices in Echo laboratory.
Performs quality assurance reviews on Echo equipment and processes
Precepts new staff and cardiology trainees in their development of echocardiology image skills
Performs Dys-synchrony evaluations and assists in the timing delays for Bi-ventricular pacing.
Visualization of all cardiac chambers, valves, and vessels, with appropriate structural and blood flow measurement, should be provided using a standardized protocol. In addition, the cardiac sonographer must have several important communications and basic safety-related skills.
The operator must be able to properly display cardiac and/or vascular structures and blood flow in each of the imaging views. Echocardiography technologist must demonstrate proficiency in the performance of two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler(pulsed wave, continuous wave and color flow) echocardiographic diagnostic procedures.
In cooperation with management and the Cardiologists, analyzes and prioritizes equipment needs for the Echocardiographic Laboratory.
Serves as a consultant to the other health care professionals related to Echo procedures.
Assist billing and coding with interpretation of exams and follow up on outstanding billing and coding issues.
Performs digital image management and acts as a Super User for imaging storage system.
Performs transducer positioning, instrument controls and examination techniques to the individual patient and to the pathology to be evaluated.