Cardiac Sonographer

Hiring Incentives

• $15,000 Commitment Bonus for eligible Cardiac Sonographers - Paid in four equal installments over 24 months (every six months).
• Relocation assistance up to $8,000 available for Cardiac Sonographers relocating greater than 50 miles to Raleigh, NC. 

General Description of the Job Class

• Perform daily clinical operations of Echocardiography including performing Echocardiograms, entering preliminary interpretation, covering all sites and shifts including call coverage.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

• Level I Demonstrates proficiency by performing routine and emergency echocardiograms, including but not limited to 2-dimensional, 3- dimensional, Doppler, Transesophageal, and Stress Echocardiogram, as requested by physician and in accordance with standard practices. Provides echocardiography service at all necessary locations, working variable shifts, weekends, and providing emergent call coverage as scheduled. Operate equipment necessary to perform all required procedures and to obtain optimal diagnostic recording; utilize ancillary devices such as selected transducers, digital networking system, off-line analysis systems. Maintain equipment in working order, making minor adjustments and repairs. Perform routine cleaning, preventive maintenance, and report any equipment malfunction to echo lab manager. Analyze patient's medical record to obtain history of symptoms and necessary information for performance of diagnostic procedures. Prepares preliminary reports for review and interpretation by Cardiologist, including comparison of previous studies. Participate in quality improvement activities; evaluate procedure results for technical quality and accuracy; maintain appropriate logs, files, and records. Review department performance in relation to established goals, implementing changes to effect outcomes. Maintain confidentiality of patients, employees and corporation-related activities. Instruct students, fellows, nurses, or health personnel as requested. Communicates technical and patient care related information according to established processes and timelines. Attends Echo Lab Meetings, participates in Echo related conferences through attendance, ensuring continuing education and professional growth. Cultivates a collaborative and cooperative work environment within department.
• Level II Actively participates with patient testing, performing routine, non- routine, urgent, and emergent patient requests as described in the Cardiac Sonographer Level 1 job description. Performs advanced cardiac ultrasound services and procedures to patients utilizing independent judgment, with real-time and off-line manipulation of echocardiographic images for capture, display and analysis of echocardiography data. Assists the physician with Echocardiography guided studies to aid them in proceeding with complex procedures to decrease potential associated procedural risks. Acts as a resource and assists Cardiac Sonographers and Cardiology Fellows with pre/post procedures, preliminary review of images obtained and report. Acts as a preceptor by on-boarding Cardiac Sonographers with departmental orientation, in-service and education. Assist in establishing and maintaining department objectives and goals by functioning as a site Charge Sonographer. Support and recommend quality assurance initiatives.
• Level III Clinical Focus Performs advanced cardiac ultrasound services and procedures to patients such as congenital, myocardial mechanics, 3D imaging and stress utilizing independent judgment. Functions as an expert resource, to instruct other cardiac sonographers with in-services and education regarding performance and preliminary interpretation of these procedures. Performs quality assurance to ensure that all the necessary echocardiography data are obtained for the patient on the basis of clinical history and presentation. Formulating and ensuring consistent implementation of exam protocols. Provides in-service education and case reviews for staff cardiac sonographers in collaboration with the Echocardiography Technical Manager concerning new methods and techniques that are to be incorporated into the echocardiography exam. Maintains up to date all laboratory policies and procedures. Collaborates with Technical Manager and Medical Director for review annually, or as necessary for revision of all clinical policies and procedures specific to Echocardiography. Ensures all ICAEL requirements are met and maintained. Staff information, CMEs, policies and procedures, protocols, etc. are updated annually to meet ICAEL requirements. Staff is updated on all ICAEL changes. Organizes and prepares ICAEL application to maintain an accredited status.
• Education Focus Participates as a Lead Clinical Instructor in the Echocardiography Department. Participates in clinical education for students, residents and/or fellows specifically related to physics and image acquisition. Provides technical assistance in research studies on new echocardiography techniques and technology initiated by Duke, other hospitals and vendors through attending meetings and learning new techniques on acquiring images. Assists Echocardiography Technical Manager with quality measures and outcome data to ensure a high level echocardiography lab.
• Clinical Lead Focus Supervisory Responsibility-Yes Support for the Echocardiography service when the manager is unavailable. The Clinical Lead is responsible for supervising, directing, coaching, and mentoring their assigned core group of staff. Evaluates staff, provides feedback, documents and directly monitors quality performance at each site. Directs orientation, provides guidance, and constructively influences staff morale. Instruct and educate visiting students, technologists and physicians about our procedures, computers and departmental functions. Provides Echo technical direction/functional advice and direct supervision to staff. Interacts and communicates with physicians, support staff, and other health care professionals to facilitate departmental operations Monitors the status of equipment repairs and preventative maintenance, gathers data on equipment malfunction and associated down time, and documents the effects on patient care. Assures compliance with department and institutional policies, procedures, and regulations. Assist with site specific personnel functions including hiring, annual evaluations, development & implementation of existing departmental policies. Coordinate staff scheduling, and maintain payroll time reports.
• Communicates information to staff in support management decisions. Assist the Technical Manager in evaluation and selection of capital equipment. Enhance professional growth and development of department staff through leadership participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops. Maintain working knowledge of resources available to the department and employees in developing work skills, employee benefits, continuing education and assuring that hospital requirements are met.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

• Graduate or completion of program that meets eligibility requirements for registry/certification or currently holds required registry or certification.

Experience

• None required beyond above education/certification requirements.
• Level I - Must obtain ARDMS certifications as required by each entity within 18 months of employment.
• Level II - Minimum of two years' experience as a Sonographer.
• Level III A minimum of 4 years' experience within specialty modality in which they are seeking promotion.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• ARDMS/CCI certification in Echocardiography
• ARDMS/CCI certification within 18 months of hire
• BLS certification

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