Chief Technologist

Facility: Paulding Hospital

Wellstar Paulding in Hiram, Georgia is seeking a FT Chief Technologist.  The Chief Technologist supervises staff to ensure that ordered diagnostic procedures are performed efficiently and professionally, assists scheduling personnel to ensure adequate staff coverage. The technologist assists with providing safe, age appropriate care to the patient by performing all exams provided by the department per department procedures. The technologist has the knowledge and ability to properly and safely obtain a quality diagnostic study. He/she is responsible for performing a wide variety of technical, clerical and leadership procedures requiring independent judgment, ingenuity and initiative in the utilization of the equipment for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases. The chief technologist can independently perform job functions. Chief Techs must be competent to perform and post process advanced protocols for their modality. Ability to mentor fellow technologists in their modality. Oversees supply management and practices in a cost-effective manner. Actively works the incomplete exam report to ensure that all studies in modality are read by a qualified physician in a timely manner. Working knowledge of Information Systems required to complete daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual quality checks. Reviews images for quality and completeness. Able to constructively deliver feedback on staff's quality of images. Provides feedback on staff quality of images and patient interaction to Manager. Perform mid-year and annual skills assessments and evaluations as directed by departmental leadership. Program protocols into scanners/equipment.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Leadership
- Develops and maintains department personnel schedules assuring adequate coverage for all shifts.
- Maintains modality workflow to assure patient throughput that maximizes equipment utilization and meets patients’ expectations regarding wait time and thoroughness of exam.
- Maintains staff educational records. Ensures that orientation records, certifications are valid, departmental competencies and mandatory staff requirements are completed within designated timeframe.
- Assists with employee performance management including issuing Anecdotal and Verbal Warnings and recommending further PM, if necessary.
- Manage department productivity adhering to operational standards.
- Establishes and modifies department protocols with guidance from physicians and department director.
- Assures that adequate equipment and supplies are available and maintained in the modality.
- Attends and productively participates in Lead Meetings and department meetings.
- Serves as first level of contact for employee concerns.
- Participates, maintains and conducts PI (Process Improvement) in the department.
- Participates in the hiring process of new personnel, and ensures appropriate on-boarding efforts to validate competency assessments and departmental orientation.
- Participates in the competency process for all Radiologic Technologists on an annual basis.
- Assures that the Imaging department is continuously survey ready.

Equipment
- Demonstrates the ability to adjust technique so that patient receives the lowest possible dose of ionizing radiation and that image quality is maintained.
- Reports problems regarding malfunctioning equipment to supervisor or service provider, so that problem can be corrected in a timely manner.
- Cleans, disinfects and maintains equipment in accordance with infection control policy.
- Ability to operate all aspects of the equipment in respective modality. 

Patient Care
- Coordinates work activities with physicians and other hospital departments.
- Obtains complete clinical history, gathers examination data and assesses for contraindicating conditions.
- Serves as a role model for all Target 100 initiatives.
- Courteously greets patients and visitors, ascertaining and addressing their needs promptly and appropriately.
- Courteously answers and screens telephone calls, personally addressing needs and directing call to appropriate person or taking a message if the intended receiver is unavailable.
- Competently performs the duties of assigned personnel in accordance with standards for the position, as needed to ensure continuity and / or timeliness of service.
- Follows established procedures for the administration of contrast media so that no patient condition deteriorates, and no patient suffers undue pain, due to error or poor technique.
- Ensures that all studies have proper patient identification and right and left marker are utilized appropriately.
- Responds to emergency situations and provides for the restocking of the crash cart and maintenance of life support equipment.
- Assists other technologists with difficult patients.
- Observes patient condition and properly evaluates situations when physician intervention is necessary so that no patient condition deteriorates as the result of misjudgment.
- Verifies correct identity of patient prior to performing a procedure.
- Ensures patient's privacy and comfort is accommodated.
- Demonstrates competence in the determination and application of appropriate procedures, equipment, supplies and techniques based on the age of patients.
- Organizes schedule, time and priorities so that required activities are accomplished within designated time frames.
- Follows physician’s instructions when assisting with procedures and exams.
- Uses Critical Thinking Skills.
- Asks clarifying questions. Seeks clarification of ambiguous orders.
- Understands, demonstrates and documents pre-procedural verification and time-out process when appropriate.
- Demonstrates and understands sterile technique, pre-and-post procedural care. 

Education and Communications
- Maintains manuals and other assigned administrative records on an ongoing basis, so that requirements are up-to-date, requiring no last-minute efforts for inspections or audits.
- Maintains staff educational records. Ensures that orientation records, certifications are valid, departmental competencies and mandatory staff requirements are completed within designated timeframe.
- Provides for the orientation and on-going training of assigned staff, ensuring that comprehensive documentation is established and maintained, so that status, progress and participation can be easily monitored.
- Participates in the orientation and training of departmental employees.
- Completes departmental mandatory and Hospital-wide education without prompting.
- Contributes to the development of staff by observing work, answering questions, explaining procedures, demonstrating techniques, and intervening where necessary to correct deficiencies.
- Provides patients with preparatory instructions and explanation of procedure.
- Utilizes positive and constructive criticism to improve staff’s performance. Has a positive attitude.
- Patiently and clearly explains purpose and nature of exam to patient prior to starting of procedure, to minimize anxiety and facilitate cooperation.
- Ensures that patient's questions, concerns or contraindications are satisfactorily addressed, notifying physician when this cannot be accomplished, prior to the initiation of the procedure.
- Required documentation is concise, legible and includes precise terminology.
- Reads email each day scheduled to work and follows through with assignment. 

Quality Control and Operations
- Serves as a quality control coordinator; evaluates accuracy and technical quality of studies performed within their area of responsibility.
- Ensures that staff accurately prepares and submits required documentation in accordance with procedures and time frames. Ensures that staff submits studies of the highest quality. All studies have proper identification, labeling and documentation.
- Ensures that all procedures are captured and charged daily. Audits Clinical Incomplete Report daily and resolves any outstanding issues.
- Maintains the department’s quality control program for radiographs and processors, resolves quality control problems as they arise.
- Checks for prior exams and assures that they are loaded, if necessary, and properly labeled prior to sending to PACS.
- Any other duties as assigned.
- Participates in the implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
- Provides input into budget recommendations for staffing, supplies, equipment, and other operational expenses.
- Interviews applicants and makes hiring recommendations.
- Orients, trains, supervise and evaluate Imaging Services staff within established time frames.
- Assigns work requisitions, prepares work schedules and ensures adequate coverage on all shifts.
- Assist in the monitoring of departmental compliance with JCAHO and other regulatory agency standards.
- Identifies, investigates and resolves operational and human relations problems.
- Monitors and controls use of supplies. Ensures that departmental par levels are maintained.
- Maintains the cleanliness and orderliness of the department.
- Procures necessary supplies in advance of need, so that delays do not occur due to depletion.
- Ensures that employees have enough to do at all times, adjustments are made daily according to Vision Productivity Report.
- Maintains Kronos Timekeeper System so that all hours are captured within designated timeframes.
- Ensures that assigned personnel adhere to hospital and departmental policies, providing timely notification, interpretation, instruction or discipline as necessary.
- Competently handles routine operational matters for the department in the absence of the Director, so that continuity, quality and timeliness of service are assured.
- Keeps Director informed on aspects of responsibilities on an on-going basis. Ensures prompt notification in the event of a problems or potential problems.
- Produces acceptable images, as evidenced by maintaining a first-time acceptance rate of 95 percent.
- Ensures that studies that have been transmitted after hours by teleradiography are written on the tracking log for the radiologist by the technologist, as needed.

Required Minimum Education:

Graduate of AMA approved School of Radiology Technology. Required and
Prefer BS degree in Health Sciences or related field, if not ARRT. Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

Registered Medical Sonographer Required or
Certified MRI Technologist Required or
ARRT Computed Tomography Required or
ARRT Mammography Required or
ARRT Magnetic Resonance Imaging Required or
ARRT Nuclear Med Technology Required or
ARRT Sonography Required or
Cert Nuclear Med Tech Required or
Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) Required

Additional Licenses and Certifications: n/a

Required Minimum Experience:

Three (3) years’ experience in Modality Required and
Prefer one (1) year supervisory experience. Required

Required Minimum Skills:

Must exhibit excellent communication skills because this position requires frequent verbal and written communications with: physicians, patients, visitors, departmental staff and nursing staff.
The employee obtains, presents and discusses clinical information regarding job responsibilities on a routine basis.
Candidate must be able to explain or give directions to maintain goodwill, and obtain cooperation with all contacts. 
Must possess the ability to function independently and under pressure while still actively participating in a team environment.
Position requires the employee to exhibit excellent customer service skills always.
Must be able to perform effectively in a stressful and fast paced work environment.
Can prioritize appropriately.
Must be detail oriented and have the capacity to effectively multitask throughout the work shift.
Must have excellent communication skills and the capacity to interact professionally with a variety of “customers”, including but not limited to patients, families, co-workers, volunteers, and physicians throughout the work shift.
Must possess the ability to function independently, yet productively as a cooperative team member with various work teams associated with the position. 
Must be compliant, with a willingness to follow all Hospital policies as well as the established practices, protocols and procedures of the position, department and applicable professional standards.
Competent in all aspects of modality, patient positioning, exposure factors and radiation protection.
Must understand anatomy and pathology as to how they affect the quality of a procedure.
Competent to perform all ACR and OEM recommended Quality Control tests.
Competent to perform all quality control / quality assurance tests based on ACR guidelines and OEM guidelines.
Able to document results of QC/QA accurately and timely on approved ACR or OEM forms.
Keeps abreast of new rules and regulations set forth by Federal, State, Local governing bodies, ACR and/or modality specific society best practices. 
Competent to perform and post-process all advance modality cases. Ability to program or revise scanner/equipment protocols.
Must possess critical thinking skills.