Lead Ultrasound Technologist

Overview

UnityPoint-St. Luke's Hospital

Full-Time

Days

A lead position responsible for effective coordination and oversight of daily patient care activities in Ultrasound (US) Imaging (Hospital based & Sunnybrook Imaging). Accountable for optimization of technical staff resources as well as supplies. Functions as a liaison with the radiologists, physicians, staff and leadership. Demonstrates in-depth knowledge and understanding of the processes and procedures relating to US services. This includes imaging techniques, computer processing, and QA/QC programs. Assists in formulating strategies for monitoring and assuring continuous quality and quality improvement initiatives. Responsible for customer service initiatives, staff mentoring and leveraging of skills and ability of their team to ensure a patient centered Ultrasound service. The lead will serve as a strong mentor to students and newly hired staff, with accountability & emphasis on their integration & orientation to our organization. The lead technologist shall provide the technical knowledge, expertise and professional judgment required to support the mission and goal of UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options focused on your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:    

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program. • Dental, health and vision insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members. • Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.  

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Join our team of experts and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Demonstrates superior clinical competency & leadership. Acts as a role model to other team members.
• Assists Manager/Director in the interviewing and hiring process of new employees and in maintaining employee files/documentation.
• Leads the orientation process & coordination of new hires.
• Able to assess needs of new hires and assists in meeting their orientation/educational needs. Identifying any areas of concern and developing action plans/time lines with those staff to improve performance. Utilizing both formal & informal mentoring ~including at the elbow coaching & instruction.
• Demonstrates & holds others accountable for professional conduct towards patients and visitors and maintains privacy of the patients, their test results and records.
• Assists Manager/Director in helping guide the staff within their modality to complete annual competency testing.
• The modality lead, in collaboration with Manager/Director, provides feedback to staff for annual employee performance appraisal.
• The US leader is responsible for its modality specific budgets, including, but not limited to: staffing hours/Kronos time cards, supply costs & daily patient revenue/charges.
• Actively identifies, creates, sets goals, leads & participates in Departmental PI projects; including but not limited to: Press Ganey scores, Employee Relations, Policy Development, Quality Metrics etc.
• RL Events Reporting follow up. May include ‘Just Culture’ algorithm, root cause analysis, process improvement, patient communication & staff education/correction.
• Development of lead role by attending various departmental, Administrative Meetings & educational opportunities. Communication & Commitment to Administrative Changes both within the hospital and the Department.
• Develops and supports the establishment of an environment that promotes individual growth, job satisfaction, and nurtures professional practice & growth.

Communication and Interaction

• Explains procedure to patients (patient communication) and performs patient care activities.
• Maintains communication with Imaging Administration, staff and physicians in a professional manner. Identifies areas of concern, proposes solutions and works in collaboration with Imaging Administration to implement changes.
• Maintains enough supplies through manual inventory control so that patient care is not affected by untimely depletion of critical supplies. Monitors supply cost & waste; implementing changes accordingly.
• Promotes & exhibits a positive public relations image through productive and professional interactions with nurses, physicians, visitors, patients, peers, supervisors, and other hospital personnel.
• Actively participate and encourage staff development & education.
• Positively adapts to change; is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities; adjusts plans to meet changing needs. Portrays positive attitude to staff regarding system/departmental changes.
• Ensures & monitors customer satisfaction, sets realistic customer expectations, solves customer problems, meets commitments to customers, seeks out customer input, responds to internal customers.
• Has good listening skills, builds strong relationships, is flexible/open minded, solicits performance feedback and handles constructive criticism. Builds strong communication lines with staff, including regular staff rounding sessions. Following up on any identified issues or concerns until problem resolution has occurred.
• Works well in groups, helps resolve conflicts, facilitates various staff or modality specific meetings, works well with other departments, is flexible and open-minded, and focuses team on setting strategies and goals specific to their modalities.

Equipment and Regulatory Management

• Identify & develop in-service programs for new equipment, practices and/or protocols within the Ultrasound modality.
• Maintains knowledge & actively participates in updating of current department protocols and equipment.
• Utilizes information systems and prepares all documentation necessary to ensure accurate and consistent information work flows. Identifies work flow improvements, ways to streamline processes or procedures to improve throughput or cut costs.
• Participates in annual budget development and contributes to the identification of cost reduction measures or revenue enhancing opportunities. Is accountable to meeting annual budget goals.
• Coordinates & monitors equipment for QA issues.
• Performs care and light maintenance of the US equipment, imaging equipment and the US rooms. This includes testing and inspection (quality assurance) of the equipment for accurate usage, performance and can assess equipment problems. Is responsible to maintain ACR/State of Iowa/DNV Accreditation for Ultrasound.
• Is responsible for the necessary documentation and records to comply with regulatory guidelines established by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the DNV (Det Norske Veritas) accreditation body, maintaining regulations to be compliant at all times. Is responsible for staff compliance in these regulatory areas as well.
• Collaborates with Manager/Director for the annual inspection process and adherence to all mandated regulations and standards.

Quality and Procedure Management

• Correlates the US exam with other tests & preparations to best pronounce the disease process.
• Produces high quality imaging procedures with precision, accuracy, and in a timely manner for the Radiologist to interpret.
• Is attentive to detail and accuracy, is committed to excellence, looks for improvements continuously, monitors quality levels, finds root cause of quality problems, owns/acts on quality problems. Implements solutions as warranted.
• Proactively tackles problems and takes independent action, seeks out new responsibilities, acts on opportunities, generates new ideas, practices self-development.
• Anticipates and prevents problems, defines problems, overcomes obstacles, generates alternative solutions, helps solve team problems. Leads implementation of process changes & follow up as appropriate.
• Practices & monitors safety protocols for patients, employees & oneself during all procedures.
• Adhere to and mentor staff regarding the proper workflow for disposal of all body fluids, hazardous materials, and chemicals in an appropriate manner according to OSHA standards and guidelines.
• Adheres and mentors’ staff to hospital & departmental safety regulations, guidelines, policies, procedures, & protocols.

Qualifications

• Education :Graduation of formal Ultrasound training program or equivalent approved by ARDMS required
• Experience : 5 years’ of working experience in Ultrasound required. Lead Technologist experience preferred.
• License/Certification : Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons. American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) credentialed. Current CPR/BCLS certification or obtained within 30 days for new hire. Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons. American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) credentialed. Current CPR/BCLS certification or obtained within 30 days for new hire.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Computer Skills relating to various EMR & Radiology Imaging Systems, PACS. State/Federal & Regulatory Knowledge, DNV Compliance, ACR Accreditation. Venipuncture Skills & Experience.
• · Machines : US Scanners: US Scanners, RIS (Radiology Applications), EMR, PACS, Various office equipment (including but not limited to fax, copier, scanner, digitizer, CD Burner), Telephone skills. 
• · Administrative : The Lead technologist shall demonstrate a working knowledge of technical factors and patient body habitus to perform a variety of US procedures. He/she must maintain knowledge of current department protocols, assist the radiologist in procedures, practice and adhere to safety requirements, utilize RIS/EMR/PACS to process paperwork, assist in training new and student radiographers, perform other assigned duties as requested, practice sterile and isolation techniques resulting in the prevention of cross-contamination and infection. He/she must be able to concentrate on the task at hand and consistently follow procedures, must demonstrate adaptability, flexibility, cooperation, and maintain an attitude of professionalism, strictly adhere to all hospital and departmental safety regulations, guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Other : Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.