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The Sonographer - Multimodality reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Sonographer - Multimodality performs diagnostic ultrasound procedures according to industry standards, along with department policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluates the request for diagnostic, vascular and OB/GYN ultrasound services and assesses the patient to determine the appropriate procedure protocol and methods of application.
• Utilize equipment and accessories, employ techniques and procedures, perform services in accordance with an accepted standard of practice to generate ultrasound images and demonstrates expertise in limiting the exposure to the patient.
• Provides patient education in the form of written material and/or verbal explanation prior to, during and subsequent to the procedure in order to reduce the patient’s anxiety and enhance his/her comfort zone with respect to tolerance of the procedure.
• The Sonographer acts as an agent through observation and communication to obtain pertinent information for the physician to aid the diagnosis and treatment management of the patient.
• Responsible for set-up and sterile tray preparation, including procedure specific needs, medications, guide wires, catheters, and other ancillary equipment.
• Responsible for instruction and clinical supervision of students enrolled in an approved ultrasound program.
• Cares for the patient throughout the procedure according to department and hospital standards of patient care, age-specific sensitivities, and “patients first” guidelines. Participates in lifting and transporting patients to and from imaging devices.

Additional Functions:

• Assist patients on a personal level prior to exam, by providing thorough explanation of procedures and risks involved prior to the exam coordinating this into the schedules
• Provides a vast knowledge of anatomy and diagnostic performance of the entire human body
• Documents imaging procedures manually and/or electronically to insure correct charging, and patient and film file tracking.
• Sends acquired images to appropriate PACS system correctly using the appropriate accession numbers for future retrieval by medical staff.
• Composes preliminary results in appropriate system prior to sending to interpreting physician.
• Manages work list and triages exams according to accepted practices.
• Monitors stock of supplies in imagining rooms to assure their regular availability by timely reordering, rotation of dated items, and by maintenance of a clean and orderly environment.
• Reports incidences of equipment failure, irregularities in equipment performance, and equipment in disrepair to supervisor as soon as possible.
• Performs venous duplex lower extremity ultrasound exams from the common femoral to the peroneal veins bilaterally according to the Vascular Laboratory protocol. 
• Creates a preliminary report in Prosolv electronic reporting to be read and signed off the by the reading Vascular Surgeon.  After the preliminary report is created, the technologist checks in PowerChart under Rad Studies -> Vascular Imaging to verify that the preliminary report is present in PowerChart as was written in ProSolv.
• Any acute findings are reported to the ordering physician or their designated subordinate and the documentation regarding who was notified and the time is entered in ProSolv.
• Documentation of the patient’s visit and the results are created in Data Check.
• Provides imaging services of optimum quality with optimum productivity and customer service.
• Collects data to support the measurement and tracking component of quality management.
• Participates in formal and informal process improvement and problem solving to enhance the quality of service to customers
• Identifies areas for potential improvement and recommends corrective actions.
• Ensures the continuity of care through effective interactions with other departments, i.e., other off-site facilities, emergency department, registration, radiology reading rooms.

Required:

• College based two year training program with clinical education in an accredited health care setting.
• Technical competency in General Abdominal/Small Parts scanning, Abdominal Doppler, General Gynecological, 1st trimester Obstetrical and Venous Lower Extremity scanning.
• Graduation from an accredited program in Ultrasound.
• Must have ARDMS certification in at least 2 of the following - Abdomen (AB), Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), Vascular Technology (VT certification) – upon hire, AND must receive the 3rd certification within 6 months of start date.
• CPR Certification (BLS) through the American Heart Association.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred:

• 3 years of experience as a Sonographer
• ARDMS VT, OB/GYN, and AB certified prior to hire  

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.