Ultrasound Technologist

Prometheus Federal Services•Salem, OR

4d•$49•Onsite

About The Position

Prometheus Federal Services (PFS) is seeking an Ultrasound Technologist to work on-site at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Salem, OR. The Registered Ultrasound Technologist operates diagnostic ultrasound equipment, performing a wide range of routine and complex ultrasound exams and vascular studies independently. This role requires independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in applying non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves for the diagnosis of disease. The technologist will collaborate on surgical and research procedures, evaluate critical and emergency procedures, and explain examinations to patients to ensure understanding and cooperation. They will advise radiologists or referring clinicians of significant abnormalities and support the training and mentoring of Ultrasound students. The role involves interpreting requests from physicians, preparing rooms and equipment, verifying patient identity, transferring patients safely, positioning patients, performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations on multiple body areas, and performing Intra-Operative Ultrasound examinations in a sterile surgical environment. The technologist will also be responsible for equipment setup, adjustments, manual transducer maneuvering, obtaining clinical data, managing electronic records, maintaining a clean work area, managing supplies, maximizing patient throughput, maintaining equipment, performing quality assurance, and assisting with procedures like cyst punctures and biopsies. Additionally, they will develop and maintain patient prep procedures, distribute examinations to radiologists, maintain competency in reusable medical equipment (RME) handling, perform housekeeping duties, train new employees, recommend new procedures, and learn new advancements in ultrasound. The role requires acting in a professional and cooperative manner, demonstrating teamwork, and coordinating patient care activities. The technologist must be able to perform critical clinical tasks and routine quality assurance tasks without assistance. Specific duties include Intra-operative Ultrasound examinations, Upper and Lower extremity Venous Doppler, vein mapping, Carotid Doppler, arterial duplex, graft and stent assessment, Renal Doppler, Liver Doppler, P TIPS assessment, Pseudo aneurysm assessment, Aorta endograft leak assessment, and AV fistula Doppler. Duties may vary based on shift needs.

Requirements

Three (3) years of current experience in this field including a minimum of six (6) months of recent experience covering inpatient units, emergency departments (ED) and intensive care units (ICU).
Active certification through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) in abdomen / small parts and at least 2 certifications such as RVT, OB/GYN, Muscular Skeletal, etc.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association
Proven ability to speak, understand, read, and write English fluently.
Authorized to work in the U.S. indefinitely without sponsorship.
Ability to obtain public trust.

Responsibilities

Operates diagnostic ultrasound equipment both in the department and in the portable setting.
Independently performs a wide range of routine and complex ultrasound exams and vascular studies; recognizing the need to make modifications during the examination.
Coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease.
Knows and understands the principles of ultrasound and the highly specialized equipment well enough to essentially approve the acceptability or reject ability of each scan.
Collaborates on surgical and research procedures under the supervision of a licensed independent practitioner.
Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures, and rearranges patients scheduled to accommodate them.
Explains examinations to be performed to the patients so that an understanding of the purpose of the study as well as any requirements of the patients is thoroughly understood.
Advises radiologists or referring clinician of significant abnormalities that would require their immediate attention and visualization while the patient is undergoing specific examination.
Works at a teaching medical center and will support the training and mentoring of Ultrasound students.
Performs technical work in support of Diagnostic Radiology, under the direction of a physician.
Interprets requests or instructions from radiologist or medical officers.
Independently interprets and carries out the requests made by physicians.
Prepares room, equipment and materials needed for patient procedures.
Properly verifies the patient's identity using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification; follows VHA directives and policies.
Makes certain that the patient ID band and the requests are identical.
Explains procedures to patients in a manner that will gain cooperation, understanding, and allay apprehension.
Transfers patients from stretcher or wheelchair to sonographer exam table utilizing safe patient handling techniques; ergonomic methods and devices.
Positions the patient for desired results; utilizing positioning cushions and privacy shields as appropriate.
Performs diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to the abdomen, neck, chest, extremities, pelvis and retroperitoneal space, for the purpose of acquiring high quality examinations that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patient medical disorders.
Performs Intra-Operative Ultrasound examinations to assist the Interventional Radiologists in tumor ablation procedures in a sterile surgical environment.
Sets up equipment, makes multiple simultaneous settings and adjustments in operation of the equipment, and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam; insuring accurate results.
Obtains pertinent clinical data from the patients, electronic health record, requisition, and interviewing the patients and/or families.
Properly selects patients’ information from the HIS/RIS list on the workstation, verifies patient information prior to scanning. Annotations are made, correct orientation of the image, configures the image before transmitting to PACS.
Performs computer work and required forms associated with patient exams, credit of patient visits, complications and/or quality improvement activities of the department.
Maintains a neat and clean work area, including desks and countertops at all times.
Ensures supplies within assigned work area are properly supplied/stocked so that examinations are not delayed due to lack of necessary equipment and supplies.
Assists in maintaining inventory of supplies and notifies supervisor of low level of supplies in a timely manner.
Maximizes patient throughput by contacts with escorts, ward secretaries, nursing personnel, etc.
Maintains Ultrasound equipment as directed by the manufacturer.
Responsible for the quality assurance of the scan (positioning/label/technique/network information) prior to transmission to the PAC’s network.
Maintains electronic records of patient exams assuring that the images acquired are transferred into the patient record and perform clerical duties as related to patient care as it pertains to release of information and image disc creation.
Assists the Interventional Radiologist in the performance of cyst punctures, aspiration biopsies, and catheter placements for the purpose of diagnostic treatment using ultrasound techniques. This requires the use of surgical sterile techniques, syringes, needles, contrast, etc.
Develops and maintains patient prep procedures so that patients and wards understand the proper preparations for ultrasound examinations in an effort to minimize delays of examinations.
Explains procedure, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patient for all necessary views and tends to their comfort for the duration of the procedure.
Distributes ultrasound examinations and related information to the radiologist responsible for the interpretation of the exams.
Maintains competency and thorough knowledge of the processes for Critical, Semi-Critical, and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) that document the process and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME and follow established procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME and follow established procedures for all RME.
Performs or schedules routine housekeeping duties to assure that the ultrasound area is clean and sanitary.
Permits new Ultrasound employees and current Ultrasound staff needing to refresh their knowledge on equipment to shadow in the use of Ultrasound protocols, proper patient care, radiation safety, VA computer programs as they pertain to Ultrasound procedures and operation of the Ultrasound equipment.
Evaluates and recommends new procedures to the Ultrasound Supervisor that would improve the operation of the section.
Learns new advancements in ultrasound procedures and protocols as they are brought forward to meet patient care needs.
Acts in a professional, cooperative manner; uses tact, diplomacy, and courtesy in dealing with the customer base.
Encourages working as a team with co-workers and communicates appropriately and effectively.
Coordinates patient care activities with other Services as necessary to facilitate treatment of patients in a timely manner.
Demonstrates the ability to perform critical clinical tasks and routine quality assurance tasks without assistance.
Performs Intra-operative Ultrasound examinations to assist the surgeons in procedures such as vascular surgeries.
Performs Upper and Lower extremity Venous Doppler.
Performs Upper and Lower extremity vein mapping.
Performs Carotid Doppler.
Performs Upper and Lower extremity arterial duplex.
Performs Arterial bypass graft and stent assessment.
Performs Renal artery Doppler.
Performs Renal transplant Doppler.
Performs Liver Doppler.
Performs P TIPS assessment.
Performs Pseudo aneurysm assessment.
Performs Aorta endograft leak assessment.
Performs AV fistula Doppler.
Miscellaneous duties as assigned.