Student-Sonographer, Full-Time, Days

Essential Functions

All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's values: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.

Identifies patients by using two patient demographic identifiers. Reviews written orders for procedure to be performed. Acquires requisition and checks for appropriate clinical information, date, and verifies correct account number. Checks for requisition procedural contraindications. Performs ultrasound procedures using independent judgment during the sonographic exam to accurately differentiate between normal and pathological findings. Analyses sonograms, synthesizing sonographic information and medical history, and communicates findings to the appropriate physician. Imaging quality is acceptable by quality control standard to include all protocol requirements.

Explains procedure to patient and introduces self and identifies department. Greets patients professionally. Guides patients to appropriate areas. Ensures patients are in correct area for their procedure. Informs patients and their family members of all delays (including estimated wait time). Maintains patient and their family's comfort as best as possible (warm blankets, extra pillows, etc.) Arranges for interdepartmental transportation service, using correct area ID’s. Transporting patients if necessary; especially patients to and from the radiology observation area.

Obtains appropriate supplies and prepares room for patient. Maintains a sanitary and organized environment. Stocks work area with linens/supplies as needed, reporting voids. Disposes of used supplies, soiled linen, trash and bio-hazardous materials according to hospital policy. Maintains proper disinfectant of the endovaginally transducers complying with safety standards for cidex in the department. Patient flow is controlled for most efficient use of equipment.

Complies with departmental downtime protocols. Maintain accurate records pertaining to exam performed on daily log. Charges procedure and supplies when exam is completed. Adds surgical charges when appropriate. Assists in maintaining an empty list of outstanding charges, investigates and / or reports, and explains reason for charges listed as outstanding. Assists in completing debit / credit forms. Help troubleshoot improper charges and assist in getting them added in a timely manner. Assist in getting ultrasound cases read when a dictation is not found.

Participates in daily flow of patients going through the ultrasound department using patient board in work area. Resolves scheduling conflicts with other healthcare departments. Seeks to promote intra, inter, and external communications. Maintains ethical standards of relationships and communications. Assures the relieving shift has received hand off communication about the patients prior to staff leaving the work area. Communicates information and follows through on instructions received from the radiologist, radiology physician assistant and / or fellow sonographer(s). Delivers specimens to the lab as necessary in the proper location, checking specimens and labels are according to Prisma Health policy. Communicates with physician/healthcare worker regarding patient procedures. Assesses communication ability of patient and take appropriate measures to ensure patient/family understanding of procedure to be performed. Arranges for translation skills utilization as appropriate.

Operates the PAC’s system appropriately and verify studies before sending to archive. Checking at the end of the day for any unverified exams. Assures that all appropriate consents are signed (scanned into PACS for outpatient procedures, placed in charts for inpatients). Perform a "time out" for ultrasound guided procedures filling out form appropriately and scanned into PACS. Print outpatient schedule for the next business day to work up outpatients ahead of arrival (looking up histories and checking for duplicate MRN’s). Checks schedule for added patients after re-opening for outpatients. Seeks dialog with central scheduling as necessary to insure understanding of listed patient procedures. Gathers appropriate information to schedule ultrasound guided interventional procedures as necessary, correlating with necessary personnel. 5%

Recognizes and responds to emergency situations. Monitors conditions in the department that may hinder or compromise patient care. Notifies appropriate persons in regard to unsafe conditions (electrical, fire, chemical, equipment). Aware of unauthorized persons in the ultrasound department. Such persons are to be challenged as to their identity and purpose for being in the department. This applies to all unknown persons irrespective of uniform dress or official Prisma Health identification badges.

Familiarizes self with, and compliantly incorporates, all HIPPA mandates of the Department of Radiology and of Prisma Health. Follows guidelines in regard to e-mail, voice mail, and Internet communications. Checks e-mail regularly to facilitate communication. Proficient in the use of telephone equipment with a professional manner and proper phone etiquette. Maintains pleasant, helpful attitude during all phone communications. Maintains, knows and understands computers, printers and fax machine. Maintains paper and cartridges and calls help desk. Faxes reports. Reports equipment problems to appropriate personnel and records confirmation numbers in appropriate logbook. Keeps passwords current.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education - Enrollment in or completion of accredited Sonography program (in applicable discipline of Ultrasound, Echo, Cardiovascular, or Vascular Sonography)

Experience - No experience required.