What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Cardiac Sonographer position at Brigham & Women's Faulkner Hospital?
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.
Physical RequirementsStanding 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%)
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity 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.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to an employee’s protected status, such as age, race, sex, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.
- 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
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- 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
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity 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.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to an employee’s protected status, such as age, race, sex, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.
