Sonographer Lead

Aurora Health Care; Saint Francis (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin seeks a qualified Ultrasound Technologist to perform general, vascular, and cardiac ultrasound studies, assist with education, and maintain exam accuracy.

You will review patient records, select transducers, and post-process images while ensuring proper labeling and billing documentation. Strong knowledge of anatomy and ARDMS/ARRT certifications are required, along with BLS within 6 months.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge in anatomy including vascular and/or cardiology.
• Typically requires 5 years of experience in a sonographer role.
• ARDMS registrations required for abdomen/OB-GYN/vascular.
• BLS certification within 6 months.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a resource to employees and students, providing training and direction.
• Assists with HR responsibilities including performance feedback and morale.
• Performs ultrasound studies (general, vascular, and/or cardiac) and ensures exam accuracy.
• Reviews medical records, selects transducers, and post-processes images with proper labeling.
• Maintains records in RIS and documents billing codes for charges.
• Identifies equipment issues and participates in QA/calibration.
• Performs patient positioning and lifting per safety guidelines.

Skills

Ultrasound procedures

Leadership

Communication

Independent work

Interpersonal skills

Education

Sonography program

Job description

• Acts as a resource to employees and students, which includes training/orienting, providing day-to-day work direction, and giving input on performance. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work, monitors productivity, maintains appropriate staffing levels, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues.
• Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include interviewing and selection of new employees, staff development, providing performance feedback, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale.
• Assists in interpreting department policies and procedures, and advises and updates staff on procedural changes. Identifies performance improvement opportunities within the department and facilitates change. Monitors inventory levels, labor productivity and assist with managing department resources.
• Serves as a technical resource, role model and/or preceptor for students and staff. Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments across the system to provide education on managing patients after procedures and any other imaging department processes and procedures.
• Proficiently operates ultrasound equipment to perform two of the following: general, vascular, and/or cardiac procedures/studies.
• Reviews patient's medical record to obtain necessary clinical information including patient history, lab results, and physician orders, obtains necessary clinical information from patients, and compares requisitions to physicians' orders to ensure exam accuracy.
• Selects proper transducer and technical factors for accurate ultrasound procedures. Performs scans of various anatomical areas. Identifies cross-sectional human anatomy, distinguishing normal from abnormal, to establish initial evaluation of sonograms. Post-processes images as directed and accurately identifies and labels images identifying patient name, medical record unit (MRU) number, and location or position of scan on all images.
• Oversees the maintenance of 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.
• Identifies equipment performance issues and ensures and/or performs equipment quality assurance tests and calibration procedures. Reports malfunctioning equipment to appropriate staff and evaluates new products and equipment.
• 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.

Major Responsibilities

• Acts as a resource to employees and students, which includes training/orienting, providing day-to-day work direction, and giving input on performance. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work, monitors productivity, maintains appropriate staffing levels, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues.
• Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include interviewing and selection of new employees, staff development, providing performance feedback, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale.
• Assists in interpreting department policies and procedures, and advises and updates staff on procedural changes. Identifies performance improvement opportunities within the department and facilitates change. Monitors inventory levels, labor productivity and assist with managing department resources.
• Serves as a technical resource, role model and/or preceptor for students and staff. Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments across the system to provide education on managing patients after procedures and any other imaging department processes and procedures.
• Proficiently operates ultrasound equipment to perform two of the following: general, vascular, and/or cardiac procedures/studies.
• Reviews patient's medical record to obtain necessary clinical information including patient history, lab results, and physician orders, obtains necessary clinical information from patients, and compares requisitions to physicians' orders to ensure exam accuracy.
• Selects proper transducer and technical factors for accurate ultrasound procedures. Performs scans of various anatomical areas. Identifies cross-sectional human anatomy, distinguishing normal from abnormal, to establish initial evaluation of sonograms. Post-processes images as directed and accurately identifies and labels images identifying patient name, medical record unit (MRU) number, and location or position of scan on all images.
• Oversees the maintenance of 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.
• Identifies equipment performance issues and ensures and/or performs equipment quality assurance tests and calibration procedures. Reports malfunctioning equipment to appropriate staff and evaluates new products and equipment.
• 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

• Medical Sonographer (RDMS) registration with Abdomen issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Med Sonography (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Medical Sonographer (RDMS) registration with OB/GYN issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Med Sonography (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Vascular Technologist (RVT) registration issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Vascular Sonography (VS) registration issued by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Vascular Specialist (RVS) registration issued by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS-AE) registration with Adult Echo issued by the ARDMS needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, or
• Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) registration issued by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) needs to be obtained within 0 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification 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 Sonography.

Experience Required

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in a sonographer role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Advanced knowledge in anatomy that includes vascular and/or cardiology.
• Proficiency in a minimum of two of the following: all abdomen procedures, including urology, pelvic/OB, carotid, superficial structures, portable imaging, and invasive procedures; all vascular procedures; and/or all cardiac procedures, OR proficiency in all general procedures along with two of the following specializations: breast, neurosonology, and/or fetal echocardiography.
• Advanced knowledge of aseptic techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of accreditation policies and procedures to assist in facilitation of departmental accreditation.
• Ability to act as a role model and to hold staff accountable to Aurora's service commitments.
• Demonstrated leadership skills such as delegation, team building, managing multiple priorities, problem solving, and decision making.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and patient service skills to work effectively with physicians, patients and other staff members.
• Ability to work independently.
• Intermediate computer skills.

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.
• Must have clear speech, vision and hearing.
• 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.
• 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.