Breast Ultrasound Technologist

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

SUMMARY
The primary purpose of this position is to provide technical and specialized skills in the operation of Breast Ultrasound Imaging procedures on UT MDACC patients.

The Breast Ultrasound Technologist is responsible for:
•Daily operations of the Ultrasound section, patient workflow, equipment maintenance, the report of equipment failures, and quality assessment (QA).
•Independent operation of all routine, portable and intraoperative ultrasound equipment.
•Performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations in keeping with age specific needs, protocols, and communication of results of diagnostic examinations. Willing to learn new technologies as they become available.
•Knowledge of ultrasound cross-sectional anatomy, disease processes and evaluation of the resulting data
•Performing procedures as prescribed by DI Faculty.
•Ensuring a safe environment for patients and peers. Practices ultrasound safety using ALARA concepts.
•Effectively communicating and working with patients, their family members, and all UTMDACC staff to ensure high quality diagnostic procedures are performed. Duties and responsibilities are conducted in a manner that effectively supports efficient patient services.
•Providing education, training, and mentoring to students, technologists, nursing, faculty, and others.
•Maintaining a high standard of medical ethics at all times and is self-motivated to increase level of understanding and knowledge of the field, disease processes, and new procedures as they evolve.

KEY FUNCTIONS
Technical Skills:
•Responsible for provision of high quality exams while working in a dynamic, complex team oriented highly productive patient care environment.
•Performs studies/procedures as outlined in the department manuals/guidelines including routine, immediate care, portable, on-call, biopsy procedures, and intraoperative cases by applying principles of ultrasound in the execution of imaging requirements.
•Recognizes significant clinical information and historical facts from the medical record that may affect the exam and patient care.
•Responsible for quality assurance activities on technical equipment and collaborates with appropriate parties to resolve image quality issues.
•Communicates effectively with patient care team members to answer the associated clinical care questions.
•Responsible for accurately entering data or patient demographics into the Radiology Information System, all clinical computer systems, and ultrasound units. Ensures completeness of patient information in computer systems and related paperwork.
•Ensures that patient studies are appropriately coded and charged.
•Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to work effectively.
•Must be able to rotate day shift hours to cover the hours of operation in the ACB.
•Must be able to take rotational call including holidays (the technologist may switch call
•schedules with another technologist with notification and approval of supervisor/manager).
• Must be flexible to the demands of patient care by coming in early and/or staying late
•Practices responsible use of communication tools (whiteboard, paging systems, telephones, email, fax, etc).
•Corrects problems as they arise and notifies supervisor/manager when assistance is required to do so.
•Maintain productivity standards as defined in the section.
•Error rates are minimized to appropriate established levels.
•Accurately demonstrates anatomy and pathology through proper diagnostic scanning.
•Uses proper scanning techniques, annotation, anatomical and pathological demonstration, and
correct any errors.
•Clearly discusses with the radiologist ultrasound findings of patient by using cognitive sonographic skills to identify, record, and adapt procedures based on diagnostic information
received.
•Responsible for independent operation and maintains working knowledge of all ultrasound
equipment used in the section.
•Interprets orders such as patient requisition, including special instructions
•Maintains knowledge of protocols, procedures, and disease processes performed.
•Ensures completion of all duties and conducts daily verbal hand-off communication to relief technologist at shift end.
•Other duties as assigned.

Patient Care:
•Functions within professional scope of practice.
•Ensures the patient is imaged in a safe environment, free of hazards.
•Identifies patients using approved identifiers.
•Provides full attention to the patient and the procedure.
•Sets up patient studies utilizing approved protocols/procedures and brings questions forward before imaging patients.
•Follows fall precautions and posts patient updates on the whiteboards or though other communication methods.
•Ensures appropriate supplies are available for the procedure.
•Recognizes patient distress signs, initiates and follows emergency procedures: nurse/physician, DIURT, MERIT, and CODE.
•Utilizes sterile or aseptic technique where applicable.
•Demonstrates the ability to address and handle patient care concerns, Notifies the radiologist if when gross pathological findings are discovered.
•Seeks opportunities to assist in overall patient care activities .This may include escorting patients from holding areas to scanner, offering to work over when needed, assisting peers and nursing staff.
•Recognizes examination findings that may require immediate clinical response and notifies the interpreting radiologist (such as Critical Results)
•Protect patients from ionizing radiation by following ALARA radiation safety guidelines, providing lead shielding when applicable and by monitoring of technical scanning parameters.
•Maintains necessary inventory of supplies for all examination rooms.
•Other duties as assigned.

Compliance Activities:
•Maintains current required licensure and certifications.
•Follows Institution, Division and section specific policies, procedures, guidelines and protocol
•Demonstrates adherence to Joint Commission standards and initiatives and to applicable state and federal licensure and guidelines.
•Attends mandatory in-services. Maintains expectations for safety preparedness, including but not limited to: Orientation to new equipment, Employee Education Event, CPR training, fire drills.
•Attends, contributes and participates in regularly scheduled departmental meetings.
•In a self-directed manner and timely manner, satisfies department in-services and continuing education requirements for the institution, division, and section.
•Verifies correct procedures/supplies are entered in RIS for accurate billing.
•Documents incidents, variances, unusual circumstances or patient concern during the ultrasound procedure and notifies the radiologist or supervisor as needed.
•Assures all necessary patient documentation is complete and accurate by clearly writing required information on all necessary forms (such as biopsy paperwork).
•Other duties as assigned.

Operations:
•Actively participates in quality and performance improvement activities.
•Identifies new ways to improve workflows and the patient experience.
•Effectively manages patient flow and minimizes delays-by utilizing critical thinking to analyze and evaluate simple cause and effect outcomes.
•Takes appropriate action to categorize problems into high and low priority levels and exercises appropriate action to maintain efficiencies.
•Coordinates patient flows through the section acting as a resource to the patient care team.
•Ensures appropriate inventory available to ensure required resources are available throughout the day/week.
•During system failure, performs section down time procedures and immediately reports to supervisor for reassignment of duties.
•Relays all equipment malfunctions to the DI Engineering Team, supervisor and manager with appropriate information readily available.
•Demonstrates knowledge of area specific processes, scheduling capacity, and applies knowledge of work area to maximize efficiencies.
•Other duties as assigned.

Education:
•Participates in on-going learning and demonstrates application of it in his/her role.
•Actively seeks opportunities to develop professionally and personally.
•Coaches and mentors others relating specific aspects of the job.
•Provides leadership and training to students, technologists, and other staff members on an ongoing basis. Other duties as assigned.
•Fosters and encourages a receptive and nurturing environment by actively contributing to the education activities of patients, family members, faculty, radiology residents, coworkers, volunteers and students.
•Other duties as assigned

Marginal Functions:
•Able to assume leadership responsibilities in the absence of the area supervisor as needed. This involves maintaining patient flow and communicating any problems to the Diagnostic Imaging Manager or Supervisor.
•Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. Establishes and maintains a high level of professionalism through cooperation, receptiveness, and sensitivity to others.
•Assists physicians with research projects in any capacity (scanning patients, retrieving reports, logging data, and others).
•Demonstrates, by example, a high-level customer service philosophy, ethical behavior and institutional core values.
•Understands and promotes team participation over individual contribution.
•Able to work without supervision.
•Performs special projects; volunteers for assignments both internal and external to department.
•Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Education: Graduation from an approved program of ultrasound technology or radiologic technology.

Required Experience: 'No experience required with graduation from an approved program of ultrasound technology less than 24 months ago or graduation from an approved program of radiologic technology and six months of experience as a registered radiologic technologist at MDACC'

Required License:Certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) by The American Heart Association and certified in at least one of the following:

• Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) through American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or registry eligible' Sonography (S) or Vascular Sonography (VS) through American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html