Sonographer

Echo/Cardiac Sonographer

Specialty Certifications: ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography); RCS (Registered Cardiac Sonographer); RDMS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer); RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer); VS (Vascular Sonographer); RVT (Registered Vascular Tech)

How many scanners/rooms does this department have? 5 u/s machines / 3 outpatient rooms / Inpatient & outpatient setting

Will they have to float/cover any other areas? No

Common types of imaging/studies performed & job duties:

• Inpatient & outpatient adult TTE's
• Inpatient & outpatient TEE's
• Outpatient stress echocardiograms & dobutamine stress echocardiograms
• Inpatient & outpatient pediatric echocardiograms (low volume)
• Performs echocardiograms by IAC standards
• Performs non-invasive tasks including two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography with color flow Doppler (adult and pediatric), in a timely manner, providing high quality images for presentation to the Cardiologist for interpretation
• Performs pulsed and continuous wave echo Doppler
• Takes accurate measurements and calculations of the echo/doppler recordings
• Performs stress echoes, including pharmacological studies
• Sets up and assists with transesophageal echocardiograms
• Performs digital archival and retrieval of studies
• Injects echo contrast agents and acquire corresponding contrast images
• Completes all required paperwork in a timely and accurate manner
• Assures all fields are complete including but not limited to time out reporting in accordance with department and The Joint Commission safety standards
• Rotates on-call and standby with other technologists

Experience or 'Must have' skills:

• Must have experience - Performs Adult TTE's & TEE's
• Preferred but not mandatory experience- Performs stress echocardiograms, dobutamine stress echocardiograms, & pediatric echocardiograms
• First time travelers - yes as long as they have prior experience of performing TTE's

Average # of studies per day:

• 8 hr shift = 6-7 exams
• 10 hr shift - 8-9 exams

EMR &/or PACS (Picture Archive & Communication System: software & hardware) used:

• EMR - Meditech
• CPACS System - Merge

Department specific equipment:

• 3 Philips Epic's
• 2 Philips IE 33's

Radiology Supervisor or Lead Tech? 1 lead sonographer that performs echos throughout the each day

Do they use RRA's (Registered Radiology Assistants)? No

Radiologist in-house? Cardiologist in-house during business hours / On-call during non business hours / No tele-cardiologist

Do they have to start IV's? (if applicable to the department) No

Shifts & Scheduling:

• Shift - 0800-1630
• Lead Sonographer posts a monthly schedule, 1 month ahead. Block scheduling - No

Weekend Requirements:

• Sonographers rotate weekend call equitably amongst other sonographers. Weekend call begins at the end of shift on Friday until 0700 on the following Monday.
• There are no shifts over the weekends, only on-call.

Holiday Requirements:

• Yes

Call or Standby requirement?

• Response time? Occurs rarely during the week days but nearly 100% chance to be called in during a weekend call shift.
• Call schedule is rotating equitably.
• Response time - 30 min.
• Call rotation will be once every 4 to 6 weekday shifts & once every 4-6 weekend shifts dependent on sonographer availability.

Scrub Color/Dress Code:

• Are scrubs provided? Scrubs are required.
• Department provides scrubs but not mandatory to wear / You may wear your own scrubs / No required specific color

Department specific orientation Typically 1 but would extend if necessary

Additional Notes The echo department is located within the Heart Center where all invasive and non-invasive cardiac exams are performed.

Notes obtained: Phone Implementation, Email, or On-Site? Email Notes updated by & date: Justin Moon (Mgr) 8.27.26; Laura Kendall (AM) 8.27.26