Registered Sonographer

is not intended to be all-inclusive; employees will perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and/or hospital administration as required.

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
• Maintains clinical records
• Maintain infection control and use standard precautions, including good hand washing before and following patient contact
• Accurately enters patient demographics into instrument memory
• Selects appropriate transducer, set initial power output and gain for patient size and age
• Recognizes differences in normal and abnormal tissue structures
• Obtains and evaluates pertinent patient history and physical findings
• Extends standard imaging protocols as required by patient history or initial sonographic findings
• Recognizes examination findings that may require an immediate clinical response and notifies interpreting physician
• Selects proper transducers for the study being performed
• Transfers images to “hard copy” or to PACS system as appropriate.
• Consistently provides best images possible within the limitations imposed by available resources
• Employs professional judgment and discretion to protect patient rights and perform within scope of practice
• Documents equipment performance service, maintenance and configuration changes
• Assists in cyst aspiration, fluid aspiration and biopsy procedures
• Assists in developing/maintaining ultrasound procedure manual
• Assists in maintaining the section in full compliance with all requirements of ACR certification for ultrasound facilities
• Reviews medical record and uses personal patient/parent interview to obtain significant clinical information and historical facts, which may affect the sonographic examination
• Provides basic patient care and comfort, including good infection control practices, including good hand washing technique, appropriate use of standard precautions
• Consistently provides the best image quality within the limitations of available resources and patient clinical status
• Recognize significant clinical information and historical facts from the patient and medical record, which may affect the sonographic examination
• Identifies life threatening situations and responds appropriately
• Uses oral and written communication skills to interact with interpreting physician
• Recognize the sonographic appearance of normal and abnormal tissue structures
• Notifies appropriate physician of findings that may require immediate clinical response
• Recognize and compensate for acoustic artifact
• Identifies life threatening situations and responds appropriately
• Uses oral and written communication skills to interact with interpreting physician
• Performs all duties of diagnostic sonographer and radiographer
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Assists in the collection of pertinent information regarding equipment, the procedures and the work environment
• Assists in the collection of pertinent data regarding departmental Process Improvement activities
• Ensures that services are performed in a safe environment in accordance with established guidelines
• Assesses equipment to determine acceptable performance based on established guidelines
• Reviews protocol and procedure manuals as well as Safety, Risk Management, Radiation Safety and other pertinent manuals on at least an annual basis
• Analysis information collected and recommends whether changes need to be made to equipment, procedures or work environment; discusses any recommended changes with appropriate supervisor
• Instructs students regarding sonographic policies and procedures
• Assists in performing quality assurance activities based on established quality protocols
• Assists in developing/maintaining ultrasound procedure manual
• Performs weekly inventory of area supplies, orders needed items via computer
• Assists in maintaining the section in full compliance with all requirements of ACR certification for ultrasound facilities
• Assists in ensuring all QA checks are completed in a timely manner
• Assists in performing departmental safety inspections
• Reports equipment malfunction to appropriate individuals e.g., supervisor, service vendors, ensuring all required documentation is completed
• Assists in updating/maintaining departmental Policy and Procedure Manuals for optimal compliance with JCAHO
• Performs all duties of sonographer and radiographer
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Ensures that self assists in the collection of pertinent information regarding equipment, the procedures and the work environment.
• Assists in the collection of pertinent data regarding departmental Process Improvement activities.
• Ensures that services are performed in a safe environment in accordance with established guidelines.
• Ensures that equipment maintenance and operation comply with established guidelines.
• Assesses equipment to determine acceptable performance based on established guidelines.
• Reviews protocol and procedure manuals as well as Safety, Risk Management, Radiation Safety and other pertinent manuals on at least an annual basis.
• Analyzes information collected and recommends whether changes need to be made to equipment, procedures or work environment; discusses any recommended changes with appropriate supervisor.
• Ensures that self and sonographers instructs students regarding sonographic policies and procedures.
• Ensures that self and technologists assists in performing quality assurance activities based on established quality protocols.
• Evaluates self on quality assurance results and establishes an appropriate action plan for improvement as required
• Compares quality assurance results to established acceptable values
• Implements a self-improvement QA action plan, and assists technologists in their plans as required.
• Able to performs radiography if licensed with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a radiographer (ARRT RT(R) and with the Texas Medical Board as a Certified Medical Radiologic Technologist (CMRT)

Education and/or Experience

• Training as a Medical Diagnostic Sonographer (Typically 12-18 mos.)
• 2-3 years as a pediatric Sonography experience in a hospital setting preferred
• Associate's degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year College or technical school in radiologic technology if applicable but not mandatory for a sonographer.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS ) or
• Registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a Sonographer (RT-S)
• Registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT-R) if performing radiography
• Current unlimited license with the Texas Medical Board as a Certified Medical Radiologic Technologist (CMRT ) if performing radiography
• CPR Certification within 30 days of hiring Delete category if not applicable.