Mammography Technologist

Advocate Aurora Health; Town of Oconomowoc (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Wisconsin is seeking a Mammography Technologist to perform advanced breast imaging, review patient history, and ensure high-quality exams. The role involves collaboration with radiologists and other staff, data entry into the RIS, and potential mentoring of colleagues and students.

A strong MQSA background and patient-centered communication are essential. The position requires basic to advanced mammography skills, adherence to safety standards, and the ability to manage

Qualifications

• Advanced MQSA knowledge and radiation safety practices.
• Excellent communication and patient service skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Intermediate computer skills for RIS and related systems.
• Must meet competency checklists for advancement.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic to advanced screening, diagnostic, and invasive mammography examinations.
• Review patient records and breast health history to obtain clinical information.
• Adapt imaging techniques to improve diagnostic quality and identify anatomy.
• Evaluate image quality, positioning, artifacts, and compression; repeat if needed.
• Post-process images and label correctly with patient data and location.
• Provide radiologists with pertinent patient history and imaging details.
• Enter patient and study information into RIS and document billing codes.
• Serve as a resource and potential preceptor for staff and students.
• Collaborate with departments to inform post-procedure care and imaging workflows.
• Assist with patient positioning and transporting; lift and move as required.
• Provide age-appropriate care and adhere to department policies.

Skills

MQSA knowledge

Communication skills

Independent work

Computer skills

Patient service

Competency checklists

Education

Radiologic Technology program

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Proficiently performs basic to advanced screening, diagnostic, and invasive mammography examinations.
• Reviews patient's medical record to obtain necessary clinical information including patient history, lab results, and physician orders, and obtains breast health history on each patient.
• Performs scans and identifies breast anatomy, distinguishing normal from abnormal, to establish initial evaluation of images. Adapts imaging techniques to improve diagnostic quality.
• Evaluates the mammographic image for positioning, technique, artifacts and compression, and repeats images as necessary. Compares requisitions to physician orders to ensure ordered exam accuracy.
• Post-processes images as directed and accurately identifies and labels images identifying patient name, medical record unit (MRU) number, and location or position on all images.
• Provides Radiologists with pertinent patient history when reviewing films.
• Maintains records in accordance with various regulatory agencies and enters patient and study information into the radiology information system, and documents billing codes of procedures performed to ensure accurate patient charges.
• Serves as a technical resource, role model and/or preceptor for students and staff. Acts as a resource to staff at own facility and throughout the system.
• Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments to provide education on managing patients after procedures and any other imaging department processes and procedures.
• Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Radiographer license issued by required state, and
• Registered Technologist (RT) registration issued by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), and
• Mammography (M) registration issued by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providerscertification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months.

Education Required:

• Advanced training beyond High School that includes the completion of an accredited or approved program in Radiologic Technology.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 2 years of experience in a Mammography Technologist role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Advanced knowledge of Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) and radiation safety.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and patient service skills to work effectively with physicians, patients and other staff members.
• Ability to work independently.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Must meet all required elements of competency checklists for advancement level.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, and twist throughout the workday.
• Must be able to:
• - lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• - lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
• - carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• - push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• - perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary.
• Must have clear speech, vision and hearing.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.