Sonographer - PRN, Days

Prisma Health•Richland, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the manager and medical director, the staff sonographer provides diagnostic patient care services using diagnostic medical sonography. The role requires professional credentialing, academic preparation, and clinical experience. The sonographer performs ultrasound procedures, applies independent judgment to distinguish normal from pathological findings, analyzes sonograms alongside medical history, and communicates findings to the appropriate physician. The position may require coverage of various shifts, weekends, and holidays. The sonographer supports patient safety, comfort, and efficient care by verifying patient identity and orders, explaining procedures, preparing patients and exam rooms, maintaining sanitary work areas and equipment, and coordinating patient flow and transportation. The role also includes accurate documentation, charging, scheduling coordination, PACS operation, and communication with radiologists and other healthcare staff. The sonographer responds to emergencies and safety concerns, supports quality control, mentors newly hired sonographers, and instructs and supervises students and volunteers. This is a non-management position reporting to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive.

Requirements

Completion of a radiology program or sonography program; an accredited program is preferred.
Credentialed Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) through ARDMS, with at least one ARDMS credential in Abdomen, OB/GYN, or Pediatric. A Breast credential earned through ARDMS before 2011 may be accepted as the sole credential at the manager’s discretion.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Proficient use of telephone equipment.
Oral and written communication skills.
Basic computer skills and data entry skills.
Mathematical skills.
Knowledge of patient equipment, including vitals, suction, and defibrillator equipment.
EMR experience.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Accredited radiology or sonography program.
Sonography clinical experience.
ARRT certification in Radiology.
PACS experience.

Responsibilities

Verify patient identity using two demographic identifiers and review physician orders, clinical information, expected dates, and procedural contraindications.
Perform ultrasound procedures, using independent judgment to differentiate normal and pathological findings and ensure images meet quality-control and protocol standards.
Analyze sonograms together with medical history and communicate findings to the appropriate physician.
Explain procedures, greet patients professionally, guide them to the correct areas, communicate delays, and support patient and family comfort.
Arrange interdepartmental transportation and transport patients when necessary, particularly to and from radiology observation and the emergency department.
Obtain supplies, prepare rooms, maintain an organized and sanitary work area, stock supplies, dispose of waste according to policy, and properly disinfect endovaginal transducers.
Maintain proficiency with departmental equipment and manage patient flow for efficient use of equipment.
Follow departmental downtime protocols; charge procedures and supplies, investigate outstanding charges, troubleshoot improper charges, and help ensure cases are read when dictations are missing.
Resolve scheduling conflicts with other healthcare departments and promote effective communication within and outside the department.
Maintain ethical communications and provide handoff information to the relieving shift; follow instructions from radiologists, physician assistants, and fellow sonographers.
Operate PACS appropriately, verify studies and required comments and measurements before sending them for interpretation, and check that exams requiring a read are seen by a radiologist.
Ensure appropriate consents are signed and scanned to medical records.
Follow HIPAA and Prisma Health communication policies; maintain paper and cartridges, fax reports when requested, report equipment problems, record confirmation numbers when applicable, and keep passwords current.
Recognize and respond appropriately to emergencies, monitor for conditions that may compromise care, report unsafe conditions, and challenge unknown persons in the ultrasound department regarding their identity and purpose.
Mentor newly hired sonographers; instruct and supervise sonography students and volunteers; evaluate and document student progress; communicate with academic clinical instructors or department heads; and facilitate medical student observations.
Perform quality checks on sonograms, recommend corrections, troubleshoot complex studies and PACS or ultrasound equipment, and assist colleagues with complex studies requiring higher skill levels.
Check email each shift for organizational, affiliate, and departmental updates.
Perform other duties as assigned.