Sonographer - FT, Weekends

Prisma Health•Richland, SC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides diagnostic patient care services using diagnostic medical sonography. This position is bonus eligible. The role involves performing all Ultrasound procedures using independent judgment to accurately differentiate between normal and pathological findings, analyzing sonograms, and communicating findings to the appropriate physician. The Sonographer is responsible for maintaining imaging quality, staying updated on departmental changes, explaining procedures to patients, ensuring patient comfort, preparing rooms, maintaining a sanitary environment, and managing supplies. Additionally, the role includes charging for procedures and supplies, resolving scheduling conflicts, maintaining ethical communication standards, performing hand-off communication to the relieving shift, operating the PAC's system, ensuring all appropriate consents are signed, and complying with HIPPA mandates. The Sonographer also reports equipment problems, maintains passwords, responds to emergencies, monitors the department for safety, and mentors new sonographers and instructs students. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Completion of radiology program or sonography program. Accredited program preferred.
Credentialed Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
Must obtain one of more of the following with ARDMS at a minimum (Abdomen, OBGYN, and Pediatric).
Breast credential through ARDMS prior to 2011 will be accepted if that is the only credential at managers discretion.
BLS
Proficient in the use of telephone equipment
Oral and written communication skills
Basic computer skills
Data entry
Mathematical skills
Patient equipment - vitals, suction, defib
EMR experience
Excellent customer services and interpersonal skills

Nice To Haves

Sonography clinical experience preferred.
ARRT in Radiology - Preferred
PACs experience - Preferred

Responsibilities

Provides diagnostic patient care services using diagnostic medical sonography.
Performs all Ultrasound procedures using independent judgment to accurately differentiate between normal and pathological findings.
Analyzes sonograms, synthesizing sonographic information and medical history, and communicates findings to the appropriate physician.
Ensures imaging quality is acceptable by quality control standards to include all protocol requirements.
Explains procedure to patient and introduces self and identifies department.
Greets patients professionally and guides them to appropriate areas.
Ensures patients are in the correct area for their procedure.
Informs patients and their family members of all delays, including estimated wait time.
Maintains patient and their family's comfort as best as possible (warm blankets, extra pillows, etc.).
Arranges for interdepartmental transportation service, using correct area IDs.
Transports patients if necessary, especially to and from the radiology observation area and/or the emergency department.
Obtains appropriate supplies and prepares room for patient.
Maintains a sanitary and organized environment.
Stocks work area with linens/supplies as needed, reporting voids.
Disposes of used supplies, soiled linen, trash and bio-hazardous materials according to hospital policy.
Maintains proper disinfectant of the endovaginally transducers.
Remains knowledgeable about equipment that is required for each exam and must be proficient with all equipment in the department.
Controls patient flow for most efficient use of equipment.
Complies with departmental downtime protocols.
Charges procedure and supplies when exam is completed.
Assists in maintaining an empty list of outstanding charges, investigates and / or reports, and explains reason for charges listed as outstanding.
Helps troubleshoot improper charges and assists in getting them added in a timely manner.
Assists in getting ultrasound cases read when a dictation is not found.
Resolves scheduling conflicts with other healthcare departments.
Seeks to promote intra, inter, and external communications.
Maintains ethical standards of relationships and communications.
Assures the relieving shift has received hand off communication about the patients prior to staff leaving the work area.
Communicates information and follows through on instructions received from the radiologist, radiology physician assistant and / or fellow sonographer(s).
Operates the PAC’s system appropriately and verifies studies before sending to be read.
Verifies case is available and complete with necessary comments, measurements.
Checks hourly and / or at the end of the shift for exams that need to be read are seen by radiologist.
Assures that all appropriate consents are signed (scanned to medical records).
Familiarizes self with, and compliantly incorporates, all HIPPA mandates of the Department of Radiology and of the Prisma Health System.
Follows Prisma Health guidelines in regard to e-mail, voice mail, and Internet communications.
Maintains paper and cartridges and calls help desk.
Faxes reports when requested.
Reports equipment problems to appropriate personnel and, when applicable, records confirmation numbers in appropriate logbook.
Keeps passwords current.
Recognizes and responds appropriately to emergency situations.
Monitors conditions in the department that may hinder or compromise patient care.
Notifies appropriate persons in regard to unsafe conditions (electrical, fire, chemical, equipment).
Challenges unauthorized persons in the ultrasound department as to their identity and purpose.
Mentors newly hired sonographers in the departmental policies and procedures.
Instructs sonography students in methodology of departmental procedures and protocols.
Participates in supervision of students / volunteers assigned to the sonography department.
Evaluates / documents student progress as per protocol of academic institution.
Communicates with clinical instructors and/or department heads as necessary.
Facilitates medical student observations.
Performs quality checks on sonograms.
Makes recommendations for corrections.
Demonstrates excellent skills in independent judgment and critical thinking.
Demonstrates knowledge and skill to troubleshoot complex studies.
Assists other sonographers with complex studies that require a higher skill level.
Able to troubleshoot problems including but not limited to PACS and ultrasound equipment.
Performs other duties as assigned.