What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Cardiac Sonographer position at Brigham and Women's Hospital?
Site: Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc.
At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission—from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.
At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare — people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds – to apply.
Job Summary
The lead cardiac sonographer will perform all duties of the cardiac sonographer position with additional responsibilities including but not limited to: acting as a resource to all cardiac sonographers; facilitating new employee/student training; facilitating coverage for proper staffing of sonographer vacations; facilitating coverage of weekend and holiday coverage with per diem staff; serving as the lab technical director and maintaining accreditation through IAC.
Principle Duties And Responsibilities
Physical Requirements
Onsite
Work Location
1153 Centre Street
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
EEO Statement
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission—from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.
At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare — people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds – to apply.
Job Summary
The lead cardiac sonographer will perform all duties of the cardiac sonographer position with additional responsibilities including but not limited to: acting as a resource to all cardiac sonographers; facilitating new employee/student training; facilitating coverage for proper staffing of sonographer vacations; facilitating coverage of weekend and holiday coverage with per diem staff; serving as the lab technical director and maintaining accreditation through IAC.
Principle Duties And Responsibilities
- Performs high quality transthoracic echocardiograms, transesophageal echocardiograms and stress echocardiograms, utilizing agitated saline and contrast as needed
- Writes an accurate preliminary report using Epic reporting template after each exam
- Prioritizes echo orders for urgency as well as time order was placed; schedules inpatients accordingly
- Recognizes and reports critical result findings in accordance with department policy
- Supervises all cardiac sonographers to assure and improve clinical competence, productivity and patient interaction skills
- Arranges weekend and holiday coverage with per diem staff, occasionally may need to cover a weekend or holiday shift in event per diem staff is unable to
- Serves as Technical Director of the echo lab
- Maintains echo lab accreditation through IAC
- Leads echo specific staff meetings every two months with assistance of cardiologists
- Assures critical findings/results are reported per policy
- Provides volume data and utilization reports as needed
- Completes yearly performance review for all echo staff
- Interfaces with cardiologists and staff to assure flexibility and productivity of schedule
- Schedules inpatient and outpatient TEEs with PACU, Cardiology and Anesthesia
- Reviews inventory and orders supplies as needed
- Troubleshoots digital recording and transmission problems with IT
- Perform echo exams in all settings: Outpatient, inpatient and portable echoes in patient rooms, ICU, PACU, OR, ED, Observation Unit and other locations within the hospital
- Weekly timekeeper for echo
- Assistant timekeeper for Non-invasive Testing Department when main timekeepers are away
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Director or Operations Manager of the department.
- Graduate of an accredited cardiac sonography degree program
- At least five years in an academic hospital setting required with some supervisory experience preferred.
- Required Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) or Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) credentials which must be current and continuously maintained
- Performs an echocardiogram as per American Society of Echocardiography standards
- Able to record an uncomplicated echocardiogram accurately within 30 minutes
- Able to accurately perform uncomplicated adult congenital exams (Bicuspid aortic valve; PDA interrogation; Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot; etc)
- Able to enter data electronically both accurately and quickly
- Able to perform and troubleshoot stress echo exams
- Able to perform and troubleshoot TEE exams
- Good communication skills with physicians, nurses, fellow staff members and patients
- Adheres to all C.A.R.E. Standards as set by the hospital
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and disease.
- Ability to operate ultrasound equipment utilizing a variety of possible techniques, including M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler flow mapping.
- Ability to perform examinations, recognizing the significance of all structures that are visualized, differentiating artifacts from appropriate images, while recognizing the limitations of equipment and utilizing knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
- Ability to perform echo and vascular sonography studies including complex studies: stress echocardiography, dobutamine echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography examinations.
- Demonstrate flexibility performing tests/scans in a variety of clinical environments.
- Ability to educate patients and families of safe and appropriate testing; thoroughly explaining procedures, answering questions and calming concerns.
- Ability to make knowledgeable clinical assessments and judgments.
Physical Requirements
- Standing Frequently (34-66%)
- Walking Frequently (34-66%)
- Sitting Occasionally (3-33%)
- Lifting Frequently (34-66%) 35lbs (w/assisted device)
- Carrying Frequently (34-66%) 20lbs - 35lbs
- Pushing Occasionally (3-33%)
- Pulling Occasionally (3-33%)
- Climbing Rarely (Less than 2%)
- Balancing Frequently (34-66%)
- Stooping Occasionally (3-33%)
- Kneeling Occasionally (3-33%)
- Crouching Occasionally (3-33%)
- Crawling Rarely (Less than 2%)
- Reaching Frequently (34-66%)
- Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently (34-66%)
- Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently (34-66%)
- Feeling Constantly (67-100%)
- Foot Use Rarely (Less than 2%)
- Vision - Far Constantly (67-100%)
- Vision - Near Constantly (67-100%)
- Talking Constantly (67-100%)
- Hearing Constantly (67-100%)
Onsite
Work Location
1153 Centre Street
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
EEO Statement
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
