Sonographer, Radiology, FT, Days

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.

Job Summary

Provides diagnostic patient care services using diagnostic medical sonography.

Essential Functions

• All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
• Identifies patients by using two patient demographic identifiers. Reviews physician orders for the procedure to be performed. Checks for appropriate clinical information and expected date. Checks orders for procedural contraindications. Performs all Ultrasound procedures using independent judgment during the sonographic exam to accurately differentiate between normal and pathological findings. Analyses sonograms, synthesizing sonographic information and medical history, and communicates findings to the appropriate physician. Imaging quality is acceptable by quality control standard to include all protocol requirement. Stays abreast of organizational, affiliate and departmental changes/updates by checking email on each shift.
• Explains procedure to patient and introduces self and identifies department. Greets patients professionally. Guides patients to appropriate areas. Ensures patients are in correct area for their procedure. Informs patients and their family members of all delays (including estimated wait time). Maintains patient and their family's comfort as best as possible (warm blankets, extra pillows, etc.) Arranges for interdepartmental transportation service, using correct area IDs. Transporting patients if necessary; especially patients to and from the radiology observation area and/or the emergency department.
• Obtains appropriate supplies and prepares room for patient. Maintains a sanitary and organized environment. Stock work area with linens/supplies as needed, reporting voids. Disposes of used supplies, soiled linen, trash and bio-hazardous materials according to hospital policy. Maintains proper disinfectant of the endovaginally transducers. Patient flow is controlled for most efficient use of equipment.
• Complies with departmental downtime protocols. Charges procedure and supplies when exam is completed. Adds charges when appropriate. Assists in maintaining an empty list of outstanding charges, investigates and / or reports, and explains reason for charges listed as outstanding. Help troubleshoot improper charges and assist in getting them added in a timely manner. Assist in getting ultrasound cases read when a dictation is not found.
• Resolves scheduling conflicts with other healthcare departments. Seeks to promote intra, inter, and external communications.
• Maintains ethical standards of relationships and communications. Assures the relieving shift has received hand off communication about the patients prior to staff leaving the work area. Communicates information and follows through on instructions received from the radiologist, radiology physician assistant and / or fellow sonographer(s).
• Operates the PAC's system appropriately and verify studies before sending to be read. Verify case is available and complete with necessary comments, measurements. Checking hourly and / or at the end of the shift for exams that need to be read are seen by radiologist. Assures that all appropriate consents are signed (scanned to medical records).
• Familiarizes self with, and compliantly incorporates, all HIPPA mandates of the Department of Radiology and of the Prisma Health System. Follows Prisma Health guidelines in regard to e-mail, voice mail, and Internet communications. Proficient in the use of telephone equipment with a professional manner and proper phone etiquette. Maintains pleasant, helpful attitude during all phone communications. Maintains, knows and understands computers, printers and fax machine. When needed maintains paper and cartridges and calls help desk. Faxes reports when requested. Reports equipment problems to appropriate personnel and, when applicable, records confirmation numbers in appropriate logbook. Keeps passwords current.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to emergency situations. Monitors conditions in the department that may hinder or compromise patient care. Notifies appropriate persons in regard to unsafe conditions (electrical, fire, chemical, equipment). Be alert to and aware of unauthorized persons in the ultrasound department. Such persons are to be challenged as to their identity and purpose for being in the department. This applies to all unknown persons irrespective of uniform dress or official identification badges.
• Mentors newly hired sonographers in the departmental policies and procedures. Instructs sonography students in methodology of departmental procedures and protocols. Participates in supervision of students / volunteers assigned to the sonography department. Evaluates / documents student progress as per protocol of academic institution. Communicate with clinical instructors and/or department heads as necessary. Facilitates medical student observations. Performs quality checks on sonograms. Recognizes issues, makes recommendations for corrections. Demonstrates excellent skills in independent judgement and critical thinking. Demonstrations knowledge and skill to troubleshoot complex studies. Assists other sonographers with complex studies that require a higher skill level. Able to troubleshoot problems including but not limited to PACS and ultrasound equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities

• This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, manager, director or executive.

Minimum Requirements

• Education - Completion of radiology program or sonography program. Accredited program preferred.
• Experience - No previous experience required. Sonography clinical experience preferred. PACs experience preferred. EMR experience

In Lieu Of

• Incumbents in this job as of 10/1/23 hired prior to 1/1/23, must agree to obtain their ARDMS within 6 months. To obtain the ARDMS, an incumbent may either first obtain their AART or have one (1) year of clinical sonography experience and then pass the ARDMS certification exam.

Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses

• Credentialed Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) within 18 months . Must obtain one or more of the following with ARDMS at a minimum (Abdomen, OBGYN, and Pediatric).
• ARRT in Radiology - Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Computer skills / Data entry skills
• Knowledge of office equipment
• Mathematical skills
• Knowledge of patient equipment (vitals, suction, defib)
• Customer service skills
• Interpersonal skills

Work Shift

Variable (United States of America)

Location

Blount Memorial Hospital

Facility

Blount Memorial Hospital, Inc.

Department

Ultrasound

Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple: to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.