Reading Room Assistant - Emergency Radiology Full time Overnight

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Chicago, IL

8d

About The Position

The Reading Room Assistant (RRA) provides critical operational and administrative support to the Emergency Radiology section during deep overnight hours. This role ensures efficient exam workflow, timely communication, and uninterrupted support for radiologists interpreting high-acuity emergency imaging studies. The RRA serves as a key liaison between radiologists, technologists, emergency department staff, and other clinical teams to support patient care in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Prior experience in a healthcare, radiology, emergency department, or clinical support role preferred.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with clinical staff.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and remain calm in a high-acuity, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records and radiology information systems (or ability to learn quickly).
• Availability to work deep overnight shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Knowledge of Basic Medical Terminology
• Minimum six (6) months of experience in a clerical position dealing with the public.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in healthcare, science, or related field.
• Previous experience as a Reading Room Assistant, Radiology Assistant, Unit Coordinator, or similar role.
• Familiarity with Visage PACs, Epic, Workflow Orchestrator, and/or other radiology/EMR systems.
• Interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, radiology, or advanced clinical roles.

Responsibilities

• Monitor imaging worklists to support timely interpretation of ED studies
• Assist with exam prioritization and escalation of urgent or critical cases (Stroke Codes)
• Track exam status and support turnaround time optimization during overnight shifts.
• Ensure appropriate exam protocols, histories, and clinical indications are available for radiologist review.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the overnight ED radiology reading room.
• Facilitate communication between radiologists, ED providers, technologists, and nursing staff.
• Relay critical results and ensure documentation of communication per departmental and regulatory standards.
• Respond to phone calls, pages, and secure messages promptly and professionally.
• Assist with image transfers, outside study uploads, and prior exam retrieval.
• Spreadsheet - Interesting case studies (work with section chief)
• Support documentation of critical results, addenda, and workflow-related tasks as directed.
• Maintain accurate logs related to overnight operations and escalations.
• Assist with downtime procedures and recovery workflows when needed.
• Support compliance with Northwestern Medicine policies, Joint Commission standards, and patient safety protocols.
• Identify workflow issues during overnight operations and escalate concerns to on-call leadership as appropriate
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts by sharing feedback from overnight operations.

Benefits

• We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees.
• We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees