Lead Sonographer

Department:

Status:

Benefits Eligible:

Hou rs Per Week:

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

Monday - Friday covering both hospital and clinic. Call rotation every seventh weekend and one holiday per year.

Pay Range:

Major Responsibilities:

• Acts as a resource to employees and students, which includes training/orienting, providing day-to-day work direction, and giving input on performance. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work, monitors productivity, maintains appropriate staffing levels, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues.
• Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include interviewing and selection of new employees, staff development, providing performance feedback, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale.
• Assists in interpreting department policies and procedures, and advises and updates staff on procedural changes. Identifies performance improvement opportunities within the department and facilitates change. Monitors inventory levels, labor productivity and assist with managing department resources.
• Serves as a technical resource, role model and/or preceptor for students and staff. Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments across the system to provide education on managing patients after procedures and any other imaging department processes and procedures.
• Proficiently operates ultrasound equipment to perform two of the following: general, vascular, and/or cardiac procedures/studies.
• Reviews patient's medical record to obtain necessary clinical information including patient history, lab results, and physician orders, obtains necessary clinical information from patients, and compares requisitions to physicians' orders to ensure exam accuracy.
• Selects proper transducer and technical factors for accurate ultrasound procedures. Performs scans of various anatomical areas. Identifies cross-sectional human anatomy, distinguishing normal from abnormal, to establish initial evaluation of sonograms. Post-processes images as directed and accurately identifies and labels images identifying patient name, medical record unit (MRU) number, and location or position of scan on all images.
• Oversees the maintenance of records in accordance with various regulatory agencies and enters patient and study information into the radiology information system, and documents billing codes of procedures performed to ensure accurate patient charges.
• Identifies equipment performance issues and ensures and/or performs equipment quality assurance tests and calibration procedures. Reports malfunctioning equipment to appropriate staff and evaluates new products and equipment.
• Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Medical Sonographer (RDMS) registration with Abdomen issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Med Sonography (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Medical Sonographer (RDMS) registration with OB/GYN issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Med Sonography (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Vascular Technologist (RVT) registration issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Vascular Sonography (VS) registration issued by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Vascular Specialist (RVS) registration issued by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS-AE) registration with Adult Echo issued by the ARDMS needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) registration issued by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months.

Education Required:

• Advanced training beyond High School that includes the completion of an accredited or approved program in Sonography.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in a sonographer role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Advanced knowledge in anatomy that includes vascular and/or cardiology.
• Proficiency in a minimum of two of the following: all abdomen procedures, including urology, pelvic/OB, carotid, superficial structures, portable imaging, and invasive procedures; all vascular procedures; and/or all cardiac procedures, OR proficiency in all general procedures along with two of the following specializations: breast, neurosonology, and/or fetal echocardiography.
• Advanced knowledge of aseptic techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of accreditation policies and procedures to assist in facilitation of departmental accreditation.
• Ability to act as a role model and to hold staff accountable to Aurora's service commitments.
• Demonstrated leadership skills such as delegation, team building, managing multiple priorities, problem solving, and decision making.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and patient service skills to work effectively with physicians, patients and other staff members.
• Ability to work independently.
• Intermediate computer skills.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, and twist throughout the workday.
• Must be able to:
• - lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• - lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
• - carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• - push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• - perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Must have clear speech, vision and hearing.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job

• Incentive pay for select positions

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs

• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses

• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave

• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs

• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.