Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Duties for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

• Receive patients and explain procedures, providing humane and appropriate care and communication to alleviate fear of examination. Correctly position the patient for the examination and adjust as necessary for the required examination. Determine if any special patient preparation is required.
• Operate Sonography/Ultrasonography equipment (scanners, linear/sector/endovaginal probes, pulse/color Doppler, PACS equipment) as per manufacturer recommendations and the radiology department protocols.
• Receive and interpret requests or instructions for diagnostic ultrasound scans; perform daily warm up and assign quality control checks of the ultrasound scanners.
• Explain process to patients and instruct and assist patients in assuming physical position for examination.
• Key test data and patient information into computer of ultrasound equipment to maintain record of test results.
• Perform a full range of diagnostic ultrasonic examinations to include but not limited to:
  • Obstetrical sonography - imaging of all fetal anatomy in order to obtain accurate dating and growth parameters and evaluate fetal abnormalities and problems with the pregnancy.
  • Pelvic sonography imaging of all pelvic anatomy to attain accurate assessment of suspected pathology; abdominal sonography - imaging of all major organs within the abdominal and retroperitoneal spaces (HCW will assist in any interventional techniques and localize ascites for paracentesis, as required).
  • Thoracic sonography - localize area of pleural effusion for thoracentesis; small parts sonography - imaging of the scrotum, breast, cervical regions, and superficial soft tissues. Assist in intervention procedures as required.
• Evaluate all neonatal and pediatric anatomy, exclusive of cardiovascular which lends itself to sonographic evaluation, (i.e., neurosonology), vascular sonography.
• Pediatric sonography. Be familiar with and utilize Doppler signals for spectral analysis in evaluation of arterial and venous diseases (i.e., carotid arteries, upper and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis).
• Endovaginal sonography. Perform endovaginal exams to obtain accurate assessment of suspected pelvic pathology.
• Intraoperative sonography. Assist with intraoperative abdominal, pelvic, small parts and vascular ultrasound studies.
• Identify abnormalities during testing and determine need for additional scans of affected area.
• Recognize anatomic variants and determine which other area(s) of the body should be scanned. Use a detailed understanding of diseases of anatomy to accomplish effective ultrasound scanning.
• Advise the radiologist of results of the examination and provide a preliminary diagnosis. Notify physicians of significant scans requiring immediate attention or follow-up.
• Maintain and clean ultrasound equipment on a regular basis in accordance with radiology department standards. Stock and maintain an adequate level of supplies required to perform ultrasound examinations. Recommend necessary repairs when diagnostic quality is degraded.
• Make minor adjustments to equipment. Differentiate artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognize electronic equipment limitations. Program the examination equipment, set up the machine and scanning techniques to be employed.
• Review new developments in the field by reading journals and attending meetings/conferences when possible and recommend changes to supervisors which would improve the operation of the ultrasound section.
• Recognize situations requiring patient resuscitation due to cardiac or respiratory arrest and institute the necessary emergency measures.
• Use a detailed understanding of diseases of anatomy to accomplish effective ultrasound scanning.
• Notify physicians of significant scans requiring immediate attention.
• Recognize the need for and institute the necessary emergency measures for situations where a person requires resuscitation procedures due to cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Minimum Qualifications for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

• Degree: Certificate.
• Education: Graduate from an academic program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Certification: Eligible for certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in the specialty identified in the TO.
• Basic computer skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Work Schedule:

Services shall be provided Sunday through Saturday including Federal Holidays, between the hours of 0700 – 0659. The HCW shall be scheduled for an 8.5- or 12.5-hour shift, or combination of both, which includes a 30-minute uncompensated meal break. In no instance will HCW be required to provide services in excess of 80 hours per 2-week period.