The Echo/Cardiac Ultrasound Tech (Sonographer) plays a crucial role in Central Health's multi-specialty ambulatory clinic, contributing to the diagnostic team's efforts to provide comprehensive patient care. This role performs physician-ordered diagnostic echocardiograms, stress echocardiograms, bubble studies, and contrast echocardiograms on ambulatory patients, following established protocols to ensure accurate and timely results. Working in a supportive team-based environment, this position collaborates closely with other diagnostic technicians who share a commitment to our organization's vision, mission, and values. This position's expertise and dedication will help uphold our standards of delivering exceptional patient experiences and achieving positive clinical outcomes.

** Role is hourly starting at 49+ an hour, depending on years of experience **

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with the patient’s care team including, primary care team, specialists, home care, hospital team, and any others involved with the patient’s care to optimize clinical outcomes.
• Supports the diagnostics supervisor and departmental technicians in achieving and maintaining accreditation for the echo lab, ensuring timely gathering and submission of required materials.
• Prepares exam rooms for ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and stress echocardiograms, following infection disease and patient safety protocols.
• Oversees the operational integrity of diagnostic equipment, including:
  • Maintaining inventory and equipment service records.
  • Managing scheduling for both preventive and emergency maintenance to minimize impact on patient care.
  • Coordinating with vendors to ensure optimal equipment uptime.
  • Ensuring all equipment utilized has had QC performed as required and is in safe working order prior to use.
  • Reporting any malfunctions to management, regularly practicing preventive maintenance procedures, and calling for service if needed.
  • Cleaning, maintaining, and storing equipment (machine and accessories) and completing all required logs per manufacturer guidelines.
• Enhances the patient experience by addressing and resolving patient issues in a timely manner.
• Performs high quality diagnostic cardiac exams, according to exam protocol, in a timely manner.
• Maintains production and quality of imaging procedures by following established standards and procedures.Instructs and communicates with patients and their family regarding the test to be performed and assesses patient's ability to tolerate exam.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to safety requirements, infection control policies, protocols, and techniques.
• Reviews patient medical history and supporting clinical information which may include past tracings, and cardiac history.
• Ensures that the cardiac examination order is complete, contains relevant information, and meets the standard of “medical necessity.”
• Conducts patient clinical assessment, and performs the diagnostic test as ordered by the supervising physician in accordance with professional and facility protocols.
• Applies independent, professional, ethical judgment, and critical thinking to safely perform diagnostic cardiac exams.
• Reviews examination images, synthesizes examination results, and prepares the preliminary findings in the PACS system.
• Provides patient services consistent with the Scope of Practice and Clinical Standards for the Diagnostic Sonographer.
• Assists with the education and training of sonography students, physicians and physician residents.
• Ensures all tasks provided and associated with patient care, patient administrative processes and related duties comply with all regulatory and accreditation standards, and Central Health Standard Operating Procedures, Policies and Procedures.
• Participates in daily patient care huddles, serves on assigned committees, and attends staff meetings and educational sessions, both in person and via teleconference/online as needed.
• Supports the development of departmental protocols, policies, and procedures for diagnostic echocardiograms, while contributing to organizational initiatives aimed at fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• High level of skill at building relationships and providing excellent customer and patient care.
• High degree of knowledge and competency in performing echos, stress echos, bubble studies and contrast echos.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong commitment to quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission standards and HIPAA regulations.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

Graduation from an accredited Ultrasound Technology Program with Cardiac Medical Sonography specialization 

Experience:

Three (3) years of experience as an echo/cardiac technician performing echocardiograms, stress echos, contrast echos, bubble studies, and clinical procedures in an acute care setting 

Licenses/Certifications:

ARDCS - Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer 

RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer)

RCS - Registered Cardiac Sonographer- CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) 

Basic Life Support (BLS) - Obtained through approved American Heart Association