Vascular Technologist-Registry

Advocate Health Care; Park Ridge (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care, based in the Chicago area, seeks a qualified vascular technologist to perform STAT and routine vascular studies, ensuring adherence to protocols and patient safety. The role requires ARDMS/ICAVL certification, or an approved program with an associate degree, and at least three years of vascular experience.

The successful candidate will document results accurately, work closely with physicians, and support lab operations including equipment handling and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of vascular experience or graduate from ARDMS/ICAVL accredited program with associate degree.
• Knowledge of vascular ultrasound procedures and protocols.
• Ability to document and chart exam results accurately.

Responsibilities

• Perform STAT and routine vascular ultrasound exams per departmental protocols.
• Maintain patient care and safety during procedures.
• Document findings and ensure accurate charting in PACS and department logs.
• Demonstrate competence with imaging and monitoring equipment.
• Assist in vascular surgery by transporting equipment and assisting during procedures.
• Adhere to OSHA, infection control, and department policies.
• Participate in CQI and QA activities.

Skills

Anatomy & Physiology knowledge

Teamwork / collaboration

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Associate's degree or ARDMS/ICAVL accredited program

Job description

• Provides competent and proficient technical skills in the performance of STAT & routine vascular procedures implementing procedural standards and protocols
• 1)All technologists demonstrate competence in the operation of all imaging and monitoring related equipment
• 2)Documents complete & accurate history on all patients & documents all information on appropriate tech sheets
• 3)Accurately recognizes & demonstrates deep vein thrombosis using all aspects of established criteria for doctor’s interpretation
• 4)Assesses arterial circulation by using pulse doppler, duplex, imaging & segmental blood pressures
• 5)Analyzes & demonstrates hemodynamics of the carotid arteries & intercranial circulation & documents strictly per criteria and protocol
• 6)Recognizes & is able to demonstrate to physicians normal structures & pathology of venous & arterial systems of the abdomen
• 7)Accurately demonstrates pseudoaneurysms of the groin, locates the area, correctly measures & documents with doppler according to criteria & protocol
• 8)Assesses & accurately demonstrates for the interpreting physician hemodynamics of native arteries, surgical arterial grafts, & arterial/venous fistulas for dialysis purposes
• 9)Physically map out the vein saphenous or superficial system by drawing on patients leg including all tributaries & vein diameters for the purpose of surgical harvesting
• 10)If pseudoaneurysm is present, the technologist is responsible to start the proper preparations needed for manual compression which are clearly stated in the pseudoaneurysm protocol. This includes alerting nursing physicians and the appropriate floor. The technologist is responsible for participating in holding pressure under physician supervision k. The technologist is responsible for documenting all stages of the pseudoaneurysm study and compression l. If a pseudoaneurysm is NOT present the technologist is responsible for documenting any hematomas or other abnormalities m. All technologists demonstrate competence in the operation of all imaging & monitoring related equipment & report equipment problems to appropriate person
• Provides patient care specific to procedural requirements & patient’s needs (under the supervision of the lab’s medical director) within established departmental protocols
• 1)Provides for patient comfort & safety for all procedures
• 2)Patients remain under the technologists’ care from the time of their arrival in the Vascular Lab adhering to patient care and Vascular Lab standards
• 3)Is certified in CPR, & has knowledge of all emergency procedures providing a safe environment
• 4)Assists in vascular surgery by accompanying lab physician in surgical scanning. This includes transporting the duplex machine & necessary supplies to the Operating Room, operating the duplex machine under the instruction of the vascular physician and adhering to the sterile procedure technique at all times
• 5)Assists the vascular lab physician in Penile Duplex studies. **This includes proper preparation of the patient and the medication caverject. The technologist is also responsible for documenting Ankle Brachial Indices, and optimizing the duplex scanner for the vascular lab physician.*Protoglandins are administered by the Vascular Lab physician
• 6)Performs venous surveillance studies which require additional images of iliac veins and the inferior vena cave according to protocol and properly documents all surveillance studies in the appropriate log book .
• 7)Performs scheduled exams at CardioVascular Risk Reduction Center as requested adhering to department protocols, patient assessment and reporting guidelines established at the hospital.
• Maintains an organized, safe & efficient work environment
• 1)Takes responsibility for accurately recording all procedures in PACS as well as the department log book
• 2)Insures that appropriate procedure has been ordered & charged
• 3)Complies with OSHA standards & infection control standards & policies
• 4)Documents in the inpatient chart that the study is completed & gives preliminary results exactly as stated in the department protocol
• 5)Takes responsibility for & conveys outpatient test results precisely as directed by department protocol
• 6)Maintains neat & clean work area
• 7)Maintains policies for cleaning of equipment, including all probes & filters
• 8)Reports equipment malfunction, operational problems, & inventory depletion immediately to the Vascular Coordinator
• Demonstrates a commitment to the organization by supporting & adapting to changes consistent with operating goals
• 1)Demonstrates adaptability & flexibility for change
• 2)Demonstrates reliability for attendance & punctuality
• 4)Models behaviors supportive of cooperation & teamwork
• 5)Communicates well with all members of the team
• 6)Participates in CQI team performance projects
• 7)Supports service initiative by participating in department patient satisfaction meetings following guidelines set by department.
• Participates in the department QA program/accreditation process
• 1)Attends & participates in Vascular Lab meetings
• 2)Attends department inservice programs to insure technical competence
• 3)Assists in data base input & assisting in facilitating completion of projects
• Provides training assistance to new employees, physicians, residents, and fellows
• 1)Acts as a resource for vascular techniques
• Participates in maintaining professional growth, self-development objectives & skill enhancement
• 1)Assesses own educational needs & planning; implements strategies/learning plan to meet knowledge deficiencies
  

Major Responsibilities

• Provides competent and proficient technical skills in the performance of STAT & routine vascular procedures implementing procedural standards and protocols
• 1)All technologists demonstrate competence in the operation of all imaging and monitoring related equipment
• 2)Documents complete & accurate history on all patients & documents all information on appropriate tech sheets
• 3)Accurately recognizes & demonstrates deep vein thrombosis using all aspects of established criteria for doctor’s interpretation
• 4)Assesses arterial circulation by using pulse doppler, duplex, imaging & segmental blood pressures
• 5)Analyzes & demonstrates hemodynamics of the carotid arteries & intercranial circulation & documents strictly per criteria and protocol
• 6)Recognizes & is able to demonstrate to physicians normal structures & pathology of venous & arterial systems of the abdomen
• 7)Accurately demonstrates pseudoaneurysms of the groin, locates the area, correctly measures & documents with doppler according to criteria & protocol
• 8)Assesses & accurately demonstrates for the interpreting physician hemodynamics of native arteries, surgical arterial grafts, & arterial/venous fistulas for dialysis purposes
• 9)Physically map out the vein saphenous or superficial system by drawing on patients leg including all tributaries & vein diameters for the purpose of surgical harvesting
• 10)If pseudoaneurysm is present, the technologist is responsible to start the proper preparations needed for manual compression which are clearly stated in the pseudoaneurysm protocol. This includes alerting nursing physicians and the appropriate floor. The technologist is responsible for participating in holding pressure under physician supervision k. The technologist is responsible for documenting all stages of the pseudoaneurysm study and compression l. If a pseudoaneurysm is NOT present the technologist is responsible for documenting any hematomas or other abnormalities m. All technologists demonstrate competence in the operation of all imaging & monitoring related equipment & report equipment problems to appropriate person
• Provides patient care specific to procedural requirements & patient’s needs (under the supervision of the lab’s medical director) within established departmental protocols
• 1)Provides for patient comfort & safety for all procedures
• 2)Patients remain under the technologists’ care from the time of their arrival in the Vascular Lab adhering to patient care and Vascular Lab standards
• 3)Is certified in CPR, & has knowledge of all emergency procedures providing a safe environment
• 4)Assists in vascular surgery by accompanying lab physician in surgical scanning. This includes transporting the duplex machine & necessary supplies to the Operating Room, operating the duplex machine under the instruction of the vascular physician and adhering to the sterile procedure technique at all times
• 5)Assists the vascular lab physician in Penile Duplex studies. **This includes proper preparation of the patient and the medication caverject. The technologist is also responsible for documenting Ankle Brachial Indices, and optimizing the duplex scanner for the vascular lab physician.*Protoglandins are administered by the Vascular Lab physician
• 6)Performs venous surveillance studies which require additional images of iliac veins and the inferior vena cave according to protocol and properly documents all surveillance studies in the appropriate log book .
• 7)Performs scheduled exams at CardioVascular Risk Reduction Center as requested adhering to department protocols, patient assessment and reporting guidelines established at the hospital.
• Maintains an organized, safe & efficient work environment
• 1)Takes responsibility for accurately recording all procedures in PACS as well as the department log book
• 2)Insures that appropriate procedure has been ordered & charged
• 3)Complies with OSHA standards & infection control standards & policies
• 4)Documents in the inpatient chart that the study is completed & gives preliminary results exactly as stated in the department protocol
• 5)Takes responsibility for & conveys outpatient test results precisely as directed by department protocol
• 6)Maintains neat & clean work area
• 7)Maintains policies for cleaning of equipment, including all probes & filters
• 8)Reports equipment malfunction, operational problems, & inventory depletion immediately to the Vascular Coordinator
• Demonstrates a commitment to the organization by supporting & adapting to changes consistent with operating goals
• 1)Demonstrates adaptability & flexibility for change
• 2)Demonstrates reliability for attendance & punctuality
• 3)Maintains education requirements
• 4)Models behaviors supportive of cooperation & teamwork
• 5)Communicates well with all members of the team
• 6)Participates in CQI team performance projects
• 7)Supports service initiative by participating in department patient satisfaction meetings following guidelines set by department.
• Participates in the department QA program/accreditation process
• 1)Attends & participates in Vascular Lab meetings
• 2)Attends department inservice programs to insure technical competence
• 3)Assists in data base input & assisting in facilitating completion of projects
• Provides training assistance to new employees, physicians, residents, and fellows
• 1)Acts as a resource for vascular techniques
• Participates in maintaining professional growth, self-development objectives & skill enhancement
• 1)Assesses own educational needs & planning; implements strategies/learning plan to meet knowledge deficiencies
  

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 3 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 3 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 3 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 3 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 3 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 18 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 18 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/Experience Required

• Minimum of 3 years of vascular experience OR a graduate from an accredited program approved by ARDMS or ICAVL with a minimum of an associate's degree. This position will need to recognize the needs & behaviors of a variety of age groups treated, i.e., understand child growth & development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior & look for signs of normal aging; prior experience with various age groups is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Basic knowledge of anatomy & physiology Ability to work well with others Good communication skills Good organizational skills

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Ability to be flexible to work weekends, holidays,STAT call ins in order to accommodate staffing needs. Ability to perform lifting & transferring related to patient care (lifting in medium weight category - up to 20-50 lbs, occasionally). Ability to move ultrasound equipment for portable studies to various nursing units. Ability to communicate with patients and to respond to patients in a timely manner. Ability to work in fast-paced environment with established time constraints.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

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.