Cardiac Sonographer

At Duke Health, we‘re driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

 

About Duke University Hospital

 

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health‘s three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

***This position is eligible for $10,000 Sign-on bonus, Relocation Assistance available ***

 

We are seeking a Cardiac Sonographer to join the Duke University Hospital, Cardiac Diagnostic Unit. This is a large, academically focused, team-oriented echo lab. We support professional growth with opportunities for education, leadership, research and advanced technologies. At Duke Health we provide exceptional care utilizing innovative technology to meet the ever-changing needs of our patients. We treat the full range of heart disease, which means our cardiac sonographers have ample opportunity to perform an array of sonography procedures such as transthoracic echocardiograms, stress and pharmacological echocardiograms, transesophageal echocardiograms and advanced procedures including 3D and strain imaging.

 

CARDIAC SONOGRAPHER

Job Title: CARDIAC SONOGRAPHER
Job Code: 4587
FLSA: N
Job Level: F3
Revised Date: 04/22/2024
 

General Description of the Job Class

 

Perform daily clinical operations of Echocardiography including performing Echocardiograms, entering preliminary interpretation, covering all sites and shifts including call coverage.

 

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

 

Level I Demonstrates proficiency by performing routine and emergency echocardiograms, including but not limited to 2-dimensional, 3- dimensional, Doppler, Transesophageal, and Stress Echocardiogram, as requested by physician and in accordance with standard practices. Provides echocardiography service at all necessary locations, working variable shifts, weekends, and providing emergent call coverage as scheduled. Operate equipment necessary to perform all required procedures and to obtain optimal diagnostic recording; utilize ancillary devices such as selected transducers, digital networking system, off-line analysis systems. Maintain equipment in working order, making minor adjustments and repairs. Perform routine cleaning, preventive maintenance, and report any equipment malfunction to echo lab manager. Analyze patient‘s medical record to obtain history of symptoms and necessary information for performance of diagnostic procedures. Prepares preliminary reports for review and interpretation by Cardiologist, including comparison of previous studies. Participate in quality improvement activities; evaluate procedure results for technical quality and accuracy; maintain appropriate logs, files, and records. Review department performance in relation to established goals, implementing changes to effect outcomes. Maintain confidentiality of patients, employees and corporation-related activities. Instruct students, fellows, nurses, or health personnel as requested. Communicates technical and patient care related information according to established processes and timelines. Attends Echo Lab Meetings, participates in Echo related conferences through attendance, ensuring continuing education and professional growth. Cultivates a collaborative and cooperative work environment within department.

Level II Actively participates with patient testing, performing routine, non- routine, urgent, and emergent patient requests as described in the Cardiac Sonographer Level 1 job description. Performs advanced cardiac ultrasound services and procedures to patients utilizing independent judgment, with real-time and off-line manipulation of echocardiographic images for capture, display and analysis of echocardiography data. Assists the physician with Echocardiography guided studies to aid them in proceeding with complex procedures to decrease potential associated procedural risks. Acts as a resource and assists Cardiac Sonographers and Cardiology Fellows with pre/post procedures, preliminary review of images obtained and report. Acts as a preceptor by on-boarding Cardiac Sonographers with departmental orientation, in-service and education. Assist in establishing and maintaining department objectives and goals by functioning as a site Charge Sonographer. Support and recommend quality assurance initiatives.

Level III Clinical Focus Performs advanced cardiac ultrasound services and procedures to patients such as congenital, myocardial mechanics, 3D imaging and stress utilizing independent judgment. Functions as an expert resource, to instruct other cardiac sonographers with in-services and education regarding performance and preliminary interpretation of these procedures. Performs quality assurance to ensure that all the necessary echocardiography data are obtained for the patient on the basis of clinical history and presentation. Formulating and ensuring consistent implementation of exam protocols. Provides in-service education and case reviews for staff cardiac sonographers in collaboration with the Echocardiography Technical Manager concerning new methods and techniques that are to be incorporated into the echocardiography exam. Maintains up to date all laboratory policies and procedures. Collaborates with Technical Manager and Medical Director for review annually, or as necessary for revision of all clinical policies and procedures specific to Echocardiography. Ensures all ICAEL requirements are met and maintained. Staff information, CMEs, policies and procedures, protocols, etc. are updated annually to meet ICAEL requirements. Staff is updated on all ICAEL changes. Organizes and prepares ICAEL application to maintain an accredited status.

Education Focus Participates as a Lead Clinical Instructor in the Echocardiography Department. Participates in clinical education for students, residents and/or fellows specifically related to physics and image acquisition. Provides technical assistance in research studies on new echocardiography techniques and technology initiated by Duke, other hospitals and vendors through attending meetings and learning new techniques on acquiring images. Assists Echocardiography Technical Manager with quality measures and outcome data to ensure a high level echocardiography lab.

Clinical Lead Focus Supervisory Responsibility-Yes Support for the Echocardiography service when the manager is unavailable. The Clinical Lead is responsible for supervising, directing, coaching, and mentoring their assigned core group of staff. Evaluates staff, provides feedback, documents and directly monitors quality performance at each site. Directs orientation, provides guidance, and constructively influences staff morale. Instruct and educate visiting students, technologists and physicians about our procedures, computers and departmental functions. Provides Echo technical direction/functional advice and direct supervision to staff. Interacts and communicates with physicians, support staff, and other health care professionals to facilitate departmental operations Monitors the status of equipment repairs and preventative maintenance, gathers data on equipment malfunction and associated down time, and documents the effects on patient care. Assures compliance with department and institutional policies, procedures, and regulations. Assist with site specific personnel functions including hiring, annual evaluations, development & implementation of existing departmental policies. Coordinate staff scheduling, and maintain payroll time reports.

Communicates information to staff in support management decisions. Assist the Technical Manager in evaluation and selection of capital equipment. Enhance professional growth and development of department staff through leadership participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops. Maintain working knowledge of resources available to the department and employees in developing work skills, employee benefits, continuing education and assuring that hospital requirements are met.

 

Required Qualifications at this LevelEducation

 

Graduate or completion of program that meets eligibility requirements for registry/certification or currently holds required registry or certification.
Preferred: Graduate of an accredited formal Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Cardiovascular Technology Program

 

Experience

 

None required beyond above education/certification requirements.

Level I - Must obtain ARDMS certifications as required by each entity within 18 months of employment.

Level II - Minimum of two years‘ experience as a Sonographer.

Level III A minimum of 4 years‘ experience within specialty modality in which they are seeking promotion.

 

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

 

ARDMS/CCI certification in Echocardiography

ARDMS/CCI certification within 18 months of hire

BLS certification

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 

 

 

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level

 

 

 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual‘s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual‘s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

 

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

 

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

 

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