Echo Technician Non-Registered PRN

Methodist Healthcare; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) Plan

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant is seeking an Echo Technician Non-Registered PRN to support non-invasive cardiology exams. The role performs echocardiograms, TEEs, and carotid imaging under supervision, adhering to hospital standards and physician orders.

Candidates must be registry eligible (RDCS/RDMS-FE or RCS) and meet ARDMS/CCIE requirements; training provided. This position offers exposure to advanced cardiac imaging and a pathway to certification within the hospital's program.

Qualifications

• Registry eligibility in RDCS/RDMS-FE (ARDMS) or RCS (CCI) required.
• Education options include an associate degree with one year ultrasound experience or graduation from CAAHEP-accredited program.
• Bachelor’s degree with clinical ultrasound experience or ARDMS/ARDMS eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Acquire physician orders and obtain consent; explain procedure to patient.
• Ensure proper equipment operation and maintenance for exams.
• Perform echocardiograms (2-D, M-mode, color Doppler, pulsed/continuous wave).
• Perform TEEs and assist cardiologist with probe placement and data management.
• Assist with tilt-table testing and patient preparation (NPO, monitoring, labs as needed).
• Obtain carotid images with Doppler and provide measurements.
• Maintain patient reports in accordance with hospital policy and ensure data integrity.

Skills

Cardiac imaging knowledge

Patient communication

Technical troubleshooting

Education

Associate degree or higher in diagnostic medical sonography/related field

ARDMS/RCS eligibility

Bachelor’s in sonography or vascular tech (optional)

Tools

Meditech

PACS

Echocardiography equipment

Job description

Last year our HCA Healthcare colleagues invested over 156,000 hours volunteering in our communities. As an Echo Technician Non-Registered PRN with Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant you can be a part of an organization that is devoted to giving back!

Job Summary and Qualifications

The Echo/Cardiac Ultrasound Technologist works under the direction of the Non-Invasive Cardiology Manager or designee and demonstrates knowledge of non-invasive cardiac technology to perform physician-ordered diagnostic cardiac exams. He/she performs echocardiograms (2-D, M-mode, color doppler, pulsed wave doppler, and continuous wave doppler), TEEs (routine and CVOR), carotid imaging, tilt-table testing, and other related examinations according to established Hospital standards and practices. Applies technical knowledge of diagnostic non-invasive cardiac imaging equipment operation to include: Proficiency in basic troubleshooting, proper equipment cleaning, storage and maintenance of equipment. He/she accurately documents in accordance with Hospital policies and standards. Communicates timely and appropriate information with necessary members of the patient care team.

Minimum Education, Experience, Training, Required Knowledge, Skill, Abilities and Other Job-Related Characteristics:

1. Education and Experience: Candidates must be registry eligible for RDCS/RDMS-FE from ARDMS or RCS from CCI.

Effective 01/01/2013 new hires must meet ONE of the following registry eligible provisions:

A. Completion of an Associate’s Degree/two year patient-care related allied health education program (diagnostic medical sonographer, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, RN program) AND one (1) year full-time clinical ultrasound/vascular ultrasound experience. (ARDMS and RCS eligibility)

B. Graduate of a CAAHEP accredited diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography or vascular technology program. (RCS and ARDMS eligibility)

C. Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) AND six (6) months of full-time clinical ultrasound/vascular experience. (RCS eligibility)

D. Bachelor’s degree in sonography or vascular technology (or foreign equivalent). (ARDMS eligibility).

E. Current Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (RCCS) or Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) through Cardiovascular Credentialing International. (ARDMS eligibility)

F. High school graduate/G.E.D. AND two (2) years full-time on-the-job experience in cardiac or vascular ultrasound. (RCS eligibility)

G. Graduate of a non-accredited program in Cardiac Medical Sonography that includes a minimum of one (1) year of specialty training (to include 800 clinical hours). (RCS eligibility)

2. Employee completes initial and ongoing training and competencies as defined by Service line, facility and department/unit which are specific to the needs of the patient population served (if applicable).

Minimum License, Certificates, or Registrations Required:

• NON-REGISTERED: In accordance to the educational requirements found in section one, all new hires who become registry-eligible will be required to obtain one of the required registries listed in section A above within 12 months from the date of hire.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Acquires a signed physician order with indicator for all exams. Demonstrates good judgment in responding to STAT calls and appropriately prioritizes STAT orders. Ensures patient consent is signed for the ordered procedure. Effectively communicates and explains the procedure to the patient without discussing clinical findings of the exam. Validates the patient and/or family understanding of the procedure.

2. Ensures proper equipment operation during patient exams. Demonstrates proficiency in basic troubleshooting, equipment cleaning, storage and preventative maintenance.

3. Demonstrates technical proficiency for echocardiograms:

A. Adult and pediatric (if applicable) echocardiograms: Performs 2-D, M-mode, color Doppler, pulsed wave Doppler, and continuous wave Doppler. This includes all measurements as needed for a complete study to include parasternal long axis, parasternal short axis, apical 4-chamber, apical long axis, and apical 2-chamber, and subcostal 4-chamber view, subcostal short axis, subcostal RV outflow, abdominal aorta, suprasternal long axis of the aortic arch, and RV outflow to evaluate the MPA and branch PAs. Applies critical thinking skills to assess the patient condition to provide any additional views that will assist the cardiologist in the care/treatment of the patient.

B. Stress echo (exercise and chemical): Performs 2-D imaging at the highest level for the evaluation of wall motion abnormalities. Stress images will include P-LAX, P-SAX, apical 4-chamber, and apical 2- chamber.

C. Demonstrates technical proficiency for TEEs. Set up of equipment and all supplies. Assists cardiologist with probe insertion as directed. After probe placement, tape all data as requested. Upon completion of procedure, candidate will immediately clean and disinfect probe according to departmental policy.

4. Assists with head up tilt table testing. Responsible for patient preparation to include validating the patient is NPO, patient transport, placement of electrodes, placement of blood pressure cuff and presence of a patent saline lock. If continuous monitoring is required, secures the use of EKG monitoring equipment. If labs are required, candidate will arrange for blood drawing. Candidate will remain with patient at all times and offer assistance under the direction of a RN.

5. Demonstrates technical proficiency at carotid imaging. Ability to obtain images of the common carotid, bulb, internal and external carotids with color doppler and pulsed wave doppler. Provides measurements as necessary for a complete evaluation of both right and left carotids.

6. Maintains all patient reports in accordance with Hospital policy. This includes but is not limited to the following: pulling all previous reports/images; presenting images to the correct reading physician; notifying reading physicians of requests; entering proper patient charges into Meditech; performing database and operating system backup; error log review; Hemodynamic Monitoring system data field modification; and proper storage of archived exam/study data.

7. Performs high level disinfection using established policies and procedures as required.

Additional Job Functions:

1. Takes "Call" as scheduled by the department Director or designee.

2. Assists the Cardiology PACS Administrator with disaster recovery procedures for the Image Archive Servers.

3. Serves as a resource to physicians and staff for the Cardiology PACS system.

4. Orders department supplies as directed and ensures PAR levels are maintained to meet patient needs.

5. Supports the mission and vision of the Methodist Healthcare System. Understands and is committed to helping the Methodist Healthcare System and its associated facilities achieve its goals.

6. Must learn and comply with System and facility safety policies and rules; must use appropriate safety equipment and procedures at all times; must immediately report all unsafe conditions to supervisors; must be familiar with all safety features of equipment, tools or materials encompassed by job duties; and must check with supervisors (prior to job performance) if there is a question as to the safe procedure to be used for any job function.

7. Adheres to the MHS Code of Conduct and demonstrates ethical behavior as expected by our patients, colleagues and the community. Understands the personal obligation to report any activity that appears to violate applicable laws, rules regulations or the Code of Conduct itself.

8. Completes other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:

• Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
• Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
• Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
• Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling
• Education supportthrough tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
• Additional benefitsfor fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts

Learn more about Employee Benefits

Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.

Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant has been nationally recognized for its record setting kidney, liver and pancreas transplant programs. It is home to the Texas Transplant Institute and is the largest living donor kidney transplant program in the US. According to the United Network of Organ Sharing database, the center reached a major milestone in 2019 by performing 231 living donor kidney transplants in a single year setting a new national record - that’s 65 more transplants than the second center on the list.

In addition to transplant care, Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant is a full service hospital with over 260 beds that provides specialized services for liver cancer care, emergency care, weight loss surgery, urology surgery, vascular surgery, inpatient rehabilitation, colorectal surgery and behavioral health care. It is a designated Center of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Our Sexual Assault Response Team provides a compassionate environment for sexual assault survivors ages 13+, serving as a model for hospitals and agencies all over the world. Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant prides itself on providing the highest quality of patient care possible as proven by their consecutive Grade A scores from the Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade survey and ranking in the nation’s top quartile for patient experience. For more information, please visit our website at www.sahealth.com and select Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant under Locations.

There is so much good to do in the world and so many different ways to do it. - Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. HCA Healthcare Co-Founder

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.