Lead Echo Sonographer - Days
Company: Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital
Location: Sugar Land
Posted on: September 26, 2024
Job Description:
At Houston Methodist, the Lead Echo Sonographer functions as the
lead person for cardiac sonography, generally for an assigned
shift, and in this capacity performs lead job duties and/or
regularly leads projects or performs specialized responsibilities
as a regular part of their normal job responsibilities. In addition
to the lead responsibilities, this position also functions at an
Echo Sonographer II level and serves as the liaison between
management, staff and physicians for routine matters as the primary
point of contact for resolving questions and issues for Sonographer
I and II jobs as well as support staff, resulting in the delivery
of exceptional patient care and adherence to standards of practice
for optimal patient safety, quality outcomes, and customer service.
Duties for this position may be varied and may include many of the
following: organize work schedules, make work assignments, review
and edit time cards for accuracy, conduct quality assurance audits
of staff performance, develop and implement quality improvement
activities, train and mentor staff, provide feedback on staff
performance and developmental needs, participate in the development
of skills and performance of staff, lead and regularly perform
special projects, collect/analyze/report on data, prepare reports
on performance and metrics, and other responsibilities of a similar
nature and level. The Lead Echo Sonographer position is an
experienced sonographer capable of performing and teaching a range
of standard to complex echocardiograms including but not limited to
TTE, Plain Stress Echocardiogram or Dobutamine Stress
Echocardiogram, TTE with bubbles, TTE with contrast and advanced
TTE/ such as TTE with 3D imaging. This position coordinates patient
flow, operating all systems for routine, specialty and research
diagnostic/therapeutic studies, supporting protocol development,
and performing all duties related to scanning and image processing
and oversees Quality Assurance testing in compliance with lab
accreditation and daily operations. The Lead Echo Sonographer
position works independently exercising sound judgment and
executing above average clinical skills on challenging diagnostic
procedures and patient care situations. This position requires
availability to be on call.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Promotes a positive work environment and leads the team to be a
dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another to
achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members
of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting
pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive
manner.
- Orients, guides and mentors team members consisting of
Sonographer I and II's, students and support staff, to help build
confidence and competency in skills, knowledge and abilities.
Trains and leads all sonographers to perform any procedure in the
areas of responsibility at the highest competency level.
Effectively implements protocols and objectives with team members
to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient
safety, and customer service. Provides feedback to management on
team member performance and conduct.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Performs cardiac echo studies, while ensuring precise and
accurate data is transmitted for physician completion. Provides
additional support for pharmacologic and exercise stress procedures
as well as advanced procedures when needed. Assures proper review
of patient medical information, independently performs high quality
diagnostic studies according to specified protocols for routine,
specialty and research studies while teaching, providing care to
and appropriately monitoring patients.
- Provides direct assistance to physicians and other health care
team members during cardiac echo studies including, patient
preparation before procedures and performs proper sterile
techniques as indicated in support of the procedure.
- Provides care for the physical needs of patients when
conducting the cardiac echo studies. Educates patients who require
inpatient or outpatient echo exams by providing explanations of
purpose and techniques used during the exam. Proactively identifies
issues and how to address them for optimum outcomes.
- Serves as liaison between team members, management and
physicians, resolving routine matters for the shift/modality.
Interacts with vendors for supply and equipment needs.
- Assists in developing and evaluating new technical procedures
and products and communicating it to the team.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Identifies and recognizes cardiac structures accurately,
including: calculate valve area, pressure gradients and ejection
fraction when performing echo studies. Confirms the quality of the
study is concise and clear to optimize best images for the patient
care team and interpreting physician. Identifies abnormal findings
when performing exams or processing data and takes corrective
action or communicates immediately, when appropriate, to proper
personnel for the best results.
- Ensures all patient care equipment has had QC performed as
required and is in safe working order prior to use. Reports any
malfunctions to management and regularly practices preventive
maintenance procedures; calls for service if needed.
- Maintains proper sterile techniques for procedures, regularly
practices aseptic techniques, and ensures compliance with infection
control procedures. Complies with job, departmental and hospital
safety standards, practices and policies.
- Identifies opportunities for corrective action and process
improvement providing recommendations and contributes to meeting
departmental and hospital targets for quality and safety. Assists
with implementation and education of departmental based safety
initiatives and standards of practice. Reports -near misses - and
inputs errors promptly into documentation system to improve
processes and identify trends.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides accurate and complete documentation of patient
procedures. Enters charges at the time service is delivered, when
applicable.
- Orders supplies; does not waste supplies.
- Appropriately handles scheduling to accommodate patients' needs
and ensuring adequate staffing for operations is maintained.
Monitors and adjusts activities to ensure optimum patient
throughput and patient experience. Self-motivated to independently
manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. Accurately
reviews and edits team member's timecards for management approval,
if applicable.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Leads departmental projects and shared governance activities.
- Encourages departmental participation in opportunities to
expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on
continual development as a Sonographer. Fosters a positive and
constructive teaching environment by engaging students and
co-workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in
alignment with business objectives. Actively engages in new
echosonographer technology, research and abstracts; participating
in and encouraging professional publications for the lab (if
applicable).
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the
employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job
duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise
job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION
- Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing
body for the required credential(s) indicated below
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Five years' experience as a Cardiac Sonographer including prior
lead/supervisor experience; may consider HM Echo Sonographer with
four years' experience of which two are as HM Echo Sonographer II
and performance demonstrating leadership skills
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
- BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
- RDCS - Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographerr (ARDMS)
OR
- RCS - Registered Cardiac Sonographer (CCI) OR
- RCCS - Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (CCI)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely
perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills and
competency assessments
- Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging
/ difficult diagnostic procedures and patient care situations;
demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average clinical
skills
- Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer
systems to include, Hospital / Radiology/ Cardiology Information
Systems and Office software to maintain patient and exam documents
- Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all
levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent
customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and
co-workers
- Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision
including, organizing workflow and actively participating in
problem solving
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the
English language necessary to perform the essential functions of
this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or
employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians,
family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a
customer service focus and application of positive language
principlesSUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs Yes
- Business professional No
- Other (department approved) NoON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during
emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless
of selection below.
- On Call* YesTRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area
Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area NoCompany
Profile:Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, scheduled to open in
the first quarter of 2025, will be Houston Methodist's ninth
hospital and will incorporate the most advanced technology
available from the day the doors open. With 100 beds (at our
opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in the heart of the
rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor, the hospital will be equipped
with technologically advanced innovations implemented during COVID,
many of them designed to make patient communication with
physicians, staff and families the very best and most effective in
any health care facility. Even though the hospital won't be fully
operational until 2025, we have several services and specialties
opening in 2024.Houston Methodist is an equal opportunity employer
inclusive of women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.Equal
Employment OpportunityHouston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity
Employer.Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept
to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will
not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person
employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or
other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor -
priority referral Protected Veterans requested.
Keywords: Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, Sugar Land , Lead Echo Sonographer - Days, Healthcare , Sugar Land, Texas
Didn't find what you're looking for? Search again!
Loading more jobs...
