Cardiac Sonographer

Reports to Director. Under general supervision of performing physician, performs cardiac ultrasound, non-invasive diagnostic studies of the heart and/or other related studies.

MISSION, VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

• MISSION: We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.
• VALUES: Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.
• SERVICE GOALS: Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Caring and Healing Environment:

• Exhibits self-care as evidenced by balancing workload and scheduling lunch breaks.
• Schedules and utilizes vacation days to renew/refresh as appropriate.
• Recognizes stress or situational frustration while on duty and takes respite time as appropriate.
• Care of team and care of patients/families present in core values/standards of behavior.

Leadership:

• Accepts accountability and responsibility to address issues and conflicts. Follows up with Director as needed.
• Acts as a role model and precepts new associates as requested.

Teamwork:

• Communicate, collaborate, and function with other members of the health team.
• Informs nurse/physician of any life-threatening emergencies, changes in patient condition.
• Participates in shift briefs, debriefs, and huddles to improve communication, patient care, and teamwork.
• Relays accurate pertinent information to nurse, physicians, director in timely manner.
• Responds promptly to patient, family, and staff needs. Assists in emergency situations as directed.
• Fosters sense of trust and collaboration among team members and other departments.

Professional Practice:

• Takes ownership and pride in their job.
• Respect the dignity and rights of the patient regardless of socioeconomic status, personal attributes, or nature of health problem.
• Maintain each patient's right to privacy by protecting confidential information.

Patient Care Delivery:

Clinical Care

• Conduct Echocardiograms /Education.
• Proficiently performs all types of echocardiographic procedures including M-mode, 2-D, Doppler, Color flow, and Stress Echo on adults and children.
• Prepares data for physician interpretation.

Keep Records

• Maintain daily logbook.
• Makes sure Echo report is in Vericis (or other software used) prior to physician read.
• Keep patient records on file in Department so previous findings can be compared with current Echo.

Supply Inventory/Department Maintenance

• Monitors stock supplies and materials and reports shortages.
• Keeps the rooms and department areas neat and orderly.
• Performs QA checks as directed.

Interact with Physicians

• Must select the appropriate data for measurement and analysis and present this data to the physician for interpretation.
• Will participate in physician's interpretation or reading sessions.
• Must know significance of abnormal findings and report immediately to interpreting physician if life threatening situation occurs.
• Must be able to report interpreted findings to ordering physician if the occasion arises.

Emergency Procedures

• Must respond immediately to emergency situations when called.

Resource Driven Practice:

• Seek education and supervision as necessary.
• Participates in councils, committees, and process improvement activities.
• Has regular and prompt attendance.
• Attends 80% of staff meetings.
• Attends mandatory in-services and staff meetings.
• Maintains current BLS.
• Completes skills validation and on-line learning as required.
• Maintains Active registry status for ARDMS or CCI.

Outcomes:

• Receives patient feedback via call backs, leader rounds, or surveys.

Contributes to the overall effectiveness of the department:

• Completes other job-related duties and projects as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Associate complies with the following organizational requirements:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS (CPR) and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime in addition to working additional or other shifts and schedules when required.

Commitment to Beacon's six-point Operating System, referred to as The Beacon Way:

• Leverage innovation everywhere.
• Cultivate human talent.
• Embrace performance improvement.
• Build greatness through accountability.
• Use information to improve and advance.
• Communicate clearly and continuously.

Education and Experience

• The knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated below are normally acquired through the successful completion of some college or vocational training. RDCS or RCS required; if new graduate, must obtain within 2 years of graduation. Must maintain current CPR certification. 1 to 2 years of job-related experience is preferred. Has proficiently performed all types of adult and pediatric Echocardiograms in a busy Echo Lab, is highly preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of general anatomy and physiology, basic physical principles of ultrasound, basic mathematics, and medical terminology.
• Must know detailed normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy.
• Must know cross sectional anatomy of all imaging planes, techniques for recording all sector images and distinguish normal from abnormal findings.
• Must have a thorough understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of cardiac disease processes and be able to deviate from standard techniques when necessary to extend the scope of the examinations appropriately to eliminate abnormalities.
• Must know the function of equipment controls, techniques used in all types of echocardiograms, and have sufficient skill in the performance of these techniques so as to produce a complete anatomic and functional record for the physician to interpret.
• Must be competent in making quantitative calculations from Echo data acquired.
• Must be capable of transporting ultrasound equipment to the patient's bedside and arranging the bed and bedside furniture in a manner to facilitate placement of the ultrasound machine.
• Must be methodical and compulsive in examining all possible sector planes.
• Must be able to quickly analyze data acquired and responsibly report any life-threatening situations to the interpreting physician as soon as possible.
• Must be able to assist patients to and from examining tables and position patients properly.
• Requires good vision and color vision to assess color Doppler, as well as excellent hearing skills to assess individual cardiac Doppler sounds.
• Demonstrates good decision-making skills to evaluate and solve daily scheduling concerns as they arise.
• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with physicians and team members, as well as excellent guest relations skills with patients and families.

Working Conditions

• Must have the ability to concentrate despite distracting surroundings.
• Hours may vary to cover team members' absences or as requested by Manager/Director.

Physical Demands

• Requires the physical ability and stamina (i.e., to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time, push carts/wheelchairs up to 50 pounds, to position/lift patients at a maximum of 35 pounds unassisted, over 35 pounds requires assistance, provide CPR, etc.) to perform the essential functions of the position.