Cardiac Sonographer, Mary & Elizabeth Hosptial, PRN - UofL Health

JOB SUMMARY Performs a variety of cardiac ultrasound procedures at a technical level that does not require direct supervision. Performs exams as requested by ordering physicians and under the guidelines set by the standards of the Diagnostic Imaging Department. The Echocardiography tech determines and documents the presence, location and severity or absence of cardiac disease. Provides a quantitative comparison for evaluation of the stability, improvement, and deterioration of cardiac disease.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Obtain and record patient identification.
• Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
• Prepare and position patients for testing.
• Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the echo machine to obtain a reading for timing of cardiac cycle, for measurement purposes
• Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.

• Perform 2-dimensional, m-mode, color Doppler and pulsed wave/continuous Doppler echocardiograms on patients in our Elizabethtown KY office at least 2 Mondays (or Tuesdays) per month

• Recognize and provide detailed exams of specific heart defects during the study

• Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities
• Observe video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
• Provide obtained measurements of 2-D, color Doppler & pulsed wave/continuous Doppler
• After physician interprets, type & chart report

• Clean, check and maintain cardiology equipment

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Must be registered with American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or CCI in Pediatric or Adult Echocardiography with completion of certification within one year of employment.
• Graduate of a program in Echocardiography approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association or documented equivalent education, experience and training.
• Previous experience performing pediatric echocardiography procedures preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Understanding of the basic principles of ultrasound physics
• Knowledge of the indications for transthoracic echocardiography in pediatric
• patients
• Knowledge of common congenital heart defects and surgical interventions
• Knowledge of Doppler methods and their application for assessment of blood flow and prediction of intracardiac pressures
• Knowledge of the limitations of echocardiography and Doppler techniques
• Knowledge of standard acoustic windows and transducer positions
• Knowledge of image display and orientation used in pediatric echocardiography
• Ability to recognize normal and abnormal cardiovascular structures by 2-dimensional imaging and to correlate the cross-sectional images with anatomic structures
• Familiarity with standard echocardiographic methods of ventricular function assessment
• Familiarity with major developments in the field of noninvasive diagnostic imaging

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling
• Travel to satellite location on company bus
• Load and unload echo equipment on and off bus