Patient Care Technician

HCA Healthcare • San Antonio, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The posting title is Patient Care Technician, but the job summary and qualifications describe an Echo/Cardiac Ultrasound Technologist. The position works under the direction of the Non-Invasive Cardiology Manager or designee and performs physician-ordered non-invasive cardiac diagnostic examinations according to hospital standards. Exams include echocardiograms, transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs), carotid imaging, tilt-table testing, and related procedures. The technologist operates and troubleshoots diagnostic imaging equipment, cleans and maintains equipment, documents examinations, and communicates relevant information to the patient care team.

The role involves preparing patients and equipment, explaining procedures without discussing clinical findings, ensuring consent and physician orders are in place, and prioritizing STAT orders appropriately. It also includes maintaining patient reports and exam data, performing high-level disinfection, supporting the Cardiology PACS system and archive recovery, maintaining department supplies, and taking scheduled call. The employee must complete required training and competencies, follow safety requirements and the MHS Code of Conduct, and support the Methodist Healthcare System's mission and goals.

Requirements

• Be registry-eligible for RDCS/RDMS-FE through ARDMS or RCS through CCI, meeting one of the listed eligibility pathways.
• Complete one of the specified education and experience pathways: an associate's degree or two-year patient-care-related allied health program plus one year of full-time clinical ultrasound or vascular ultrasound experience; graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, or vascular technology program; a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent plus six months of full-time clinical ultrasound or vascular experience; a bachelor's degree in sonography or vascular technology or foreign equivalent; current RCS, RCCS, or RVS certification through CCI; high school diploma or GED plus two years of full-time on-the-job cardiac or vascular ultrasound experience; or graduation from a non-accredited cardiac medical sonography program including at least one year of specialty training and 800 clinical hours.
• Hold Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) certification through CCI and ARDMS certification in an applicable category: RDCS for the patient population served (Adult, Fetal, and/or Pediatric), or RDMS in Fetal Echocardiography, as specified in the posting.
• Complete initial and ongoing training and competencies defined by the service line, facility, and department for the patient population served, if applicable.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in echocardiography, stress echocardiography, TEEs, carotid imaging, equipment operation, and related patient-care procedures.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other members of the patient-care team.
• Comply with hospital and system safety policies, equipment procedures, and the MHS Code of Conduct.

Responsibilities

• Obtain signed physician orders and patient consent for examinations, prioritize STAT orders appropriately, explain procedures, and confirm patient or family understanding.
• Ensure diagnostic equipment operates properly; troubleshoot, clean, store, and perform preventative maintenance on equipment.
• Perform adult and, when applicable, pediatric echocardiograms using 2-D, M-mode, color Doppler, pulsed-wave Doppler, and continuous-wave Doppler, obtaining the views and measurements needed for complete studies.
• Perform exercise and chemical stress echocardiograms, acquiring specified views for evaluation of wall-motion abnormalities.
• Set up equipment and supplies for TEEs, assist the cardiologist with probe insertion as directed, record requested data, and promptly clean and disinfect the probe according to policy.
• Assist with head-up tilt-table testing, including patient preparation, transport, electrode and blood-pressure cuff placement, confirmation of NPO status and a patent saline lock, arranging blood draws when needed, and remaining with the patient under RN direction.
• Perform carotid imaging of the common carotid, bulb, internal carotid, and external carotid arteries using color and pulsed-wave Doppler, with measurements for both sides.
• Maintain patient reports and exam records according to hospital policy, including retrieving prior reports and images, presenting images to the reading physician, entering charges in Meditech, reviewing error logs, modifying hemodynamic monitoring data fields, backing up databases and operating systems, and properly storing archived data.
• Perform high-level disinfection according to established policies and procedures.
• Take scheduled call as assigned by the department Director or designee.
• Assist the Cardiology PACS Administrator with disaster-recovery procedures for Image Archive Servers and serve as a resource for physicians and staff using the Cardiology PACS system.
• Order department supplies as directed and maintain PAR levels.
• Complete required training and competencies; follow safety policies and procedures, report unsafe conditions, and adhere to the MHS Code of Conduct and ethical standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned and support the mission and goals of the Methodist Healthcare System.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health, and telemedicine plans.
• Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services.
• Paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage, and leaves of absence.
• 401(k) plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay, based on years of service.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support, and financial wellbeing counseling.
• Tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships, and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing.
• Fertility and family-building benefits and adoption assistance.
• Life insurance and supplemental health protection plans.
• Auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection, and consumer discounts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED