Ultrasound Technologist - Women's Healthcare

Ohio County Healthcare•Owensboro, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ultrasound Technologist is responsible for performing quality ultrasound examinations under the direction of the Director of Radiology and the Radiologists. This role requires the ability to lift patients, push portables, work under stress, make independent judgments, and deal professionally with others. The technologist ensures services are provided in a manner consistent with Ohio County Hospital policies, procedures, and the hospital's purpose, vision, and values, while adhering to legal compliance and regulatory policies. The position involves frequent standing, bending, stooping, lifting, pulling, and pushing heavy equipment, as well as providing direct patient care requiring fine and gross motor skills. The environment may involve exposure to communicable diseases, combative patients, bloodborne pathogens, occasional radiation, and toxic chemicals. The role may require on-call duties, working holidays, and accepting various shift assignments. A strong understanding of ultrasound procedures, anatomy, equipment operation, and physics is essential, along with the ability to manipulate transducers and patients to acquire diagnostic quality images. The technologist must maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, establish good rapport with medical professionals, and supervise radiology assistants and students. They are also responsible for maintaining inventory, ensuring safety, and adhering to continuing education requirements.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or equivalent required for all positions (may be allowed to sign a GED agreement to obtain within 6 months).
ARRT (R) registered and Kentucky State Certified.
Perform routine radiographs as needed.
BLS provider or obtains within six months of employment.

Nice To Haves

Graduate of an approved diagnostic medical sonography program or documentation of ultrasound training.
Ultrasound training in the following areas – general sonography (abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, and non-invasive vascular).
Credentialed by the ARDMS and/or actively pursuing the following registries: ultrasound physics (SPI), abdomen (AB), obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN), vascular physics instrumentation (VPI), vascular technology (VT), breast technology.

Responsibilities

Perform quality ultrasound examinations under the direction of the Director of Radiology and the Radiologists.
Assure that services are provided in a manner that is consistent with Ohio County Hospital policies, procedures, and the hospital purpose, vision and values.
Adhere to legal compliance and other regulatory policies.
Provide direct patient care, which requires both fine and gross motor skills.
Keep the Radiology Manager/Supervisor informed on matters which are or importance to the well being of the Ultrasound department.
Attend department staff meetings and mandatory hospital/department in-services.
Maintain confidentiality and complies with HIPAA, protecting patient privacy at all times.
Establish a good rapport with physicians, physician office staff, other hospital departments, and maintain a good working relationship with radiology co-workers.
Supervise radiology assistant and radiology students.
Perform supervising and other reasonable management duties in absence of the Manager or Supervisor, if requested.
Communicate any competency or proficiency needs to the department manager and take the initiative to obtain them.
Demonstrate a cooperative attitude when interacting with others, maintain composure and be diplomatic in all situations.
Treat all hospital associates and visitors with courtesy and respect.
Show enthusiasm for the job and support the hospital’s purpose, vision, and values.
Demonstrate reliability and dependability in attendance and punctuality.
Access email regularly to stay up to date on information and communication.
Demonstrate solid understanding of all ultrasound procedures, anatomy, and ability to manipulate transducers or patient to acquire desired diagnostic quality ultrasound image.
Possess solid understanding of equipment operation and attached components, ultrasound physics and equipment functions.
Select proper protocol and transducer to obtain most diagnostic images, and consistently select appropriate format and technique.
Obtain thorough history and record all pertinent information on U/S worksheets.
Consult with the radiologist or attending physician for unclear orders/diagnosis.
Keep room neat and orderly before and after exams, check supplies, clean sheet/pillow case after every procedure, and perform proper hand washing technique.
Provide general safety for patients, family, and other US staff.
Follow departmental ID policy and wear ID badge while on duty.
Review order, patient chart, and any other pertinent information before proceeding with procedure.
Check with the radiologist or the attending physician if further clarification is needed.
Complete all required patient worksheets completely/accurately and send to radiologist.
Demonstrate competency with appropriate documentation within the patient chart, following hospital/departmental protocol and policies.
Record the exact procedure completed and other pertinent patient information as handed off to the nursing staff.
Demonstrate competency with the Hospital Information System (CPSI), and Picture Archive Communication System (PACS).
Meticulously record all pertinent patient/procedure information with CPSI, start and complete each procedure as required before sending to PACS.
Accurately enter patient information into ultrasound equipment and perform quality image verification at PACS Q.C. station.
Ensure correct side is marked and verify image quality prior to sending to radiologist.
Follow ultrasound protocols as approved by radiologist.
Transmit images to PACS for emergency ultrasounds and/or scans of an urgent nature.
Follow Critical Results Test policy.
Complete verbal call report forms completely/accurately.
Periodically review ultrasound results for training/learning purposes and for accuracy of technologist impression.
Complete all work before leaving shift and inform the next shift, call tech, or next day tech, of any pending procedures or issues.
Demonstrate competency with scheduling, CD burning, film duplication, and other paperwork functions.
Participate in orientation of new employees and students.
Maintain inventory to ensure proper quantity of supplies are kept within the ultrasound room.
Secure all cabinets and doors.
Assure all medications/contrast are in date and kept secure at all times.
Keep work area neat and orderly.
Assess work area environment for any patient/visitor/employee safety hazards and report all safety issues.
Assure all life support equipment/supplies are maintained properly and in excellent working order at all times.
Maintain continuing education as required by Kentucky State, ARRT, and ARDMS.
Promptly place a copy of renewed certificates prior to expiration dates in the certification binder as well as a copy to the Radiology Manager.
Use quality improvement indicator forms.
Report all equipment errors or quality control issues to supervisor and/or manager ASAP.
Accept various quality control duties as assigned by the director.
Participate in development and maintaining protocols/policies.
Assist Lead Ultrasound technologist with ultrasound protocols as requested.
Participate in continuous quality improvement efforts in department and hospital.
Clean ultrasound equipment three times yearly according to vendor specifications.
Perform Cidex quality controls.
Perform quality control and image verifications on ultrasound images before sending to PACS.
Provide ultrasound in-services to other ultrasound technologists as requested by manager.
May be requested to be a member of QI team.
Proper use and care of ultrasound equipment to include transducers and other components.
Follow all safety procedures relating to use of equipment.
Immediately identify equipment malfunctions to supervisor and promptly notify service vendor.
Knowledge of location of service numbers and procedure for contacting service.
Proper use of RayPax equipment for remote readings.
Check the ultrasound equipment for proper function prior to getting patient on the table.
Interpret and enforce current standards of practice, policies, and procedures at Ohio County Hospital.
Interpret and enforce all hospital wide policies and procedures to include Infection and Exposure Control Plans, Safety and Disaster Plan, Personnel Policies, and Employee Health Policies.
Participate in Ohio County Hospital's Performance improvement efforts by actively participating in data collection analysis of findings and identification of opportunities for improvement.
Transport patients to and from department in accordance with hospital and department safety standards.
Inform Nursing of any specific information concerning the patient while in the ultrasound department, upon return to patient room.
Follow “hand off” policy to relay important information to nursing staff and document this on the chart.
Sign patient in and out at nurse’s station.
Bring patient chart to ultrasound in proper gowns.
Perform portable exams as necessary based on the patient's condition, as determined by the nurse or technologist.
Provide a private/confidential environment, warm atmosphere and attitude toward the patient.
Perform all vital signs, and veni-puncture as needed.
Obtain a thorough history from the patient and record on worksheet, requisition, and enter the physician’s diagnosis into the CPSI order.
Explain the procedure to the patient and family prior to the ultrasound procedure and document this on the US worksheet.
Use key words at key times by following department script for introducing self, and providing other key information.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide ultrasound services to patients served in relation to growth/development over the life span, and identify their requirements relative to age-specific needs.
Demonstrate competency with all invasive diagnostic ultrasound imaging procedures, follow set protocol, and practice sterile technique.
Assure all procedure required supplies are readily available before any invasive procedure is performed.
Participate and assure a “TIME OUT” is completed before starting an invasive procedure and the “TIME OUT” is documented on the ultrasound worksheet.
Limit personal calls and brief.