Job Abstract

Position Purpose

The Vascular Technologist assists the Manager of Diagnostic Cardiology and Medical Director of the Noninvasive Vascular Lab in the technical responsibilities of the department.

Role Specific Competencies

1. Demonstrates proficiency and remains current in the field of Vascular Technology by reading appropriate technical journals, participating in educational programs and maintains appropriate CMEs.

• The technologist must show evidence of maintaining current knowledge by participation in CME courses that are relevant to vascular testing. To be relevant the course content must address the principles, instrumentation, techniques or interpretation of noninvasive vascular testing. A minimum of 15 hours is required every three years. Laboratory correlation conferences or other internal quality assurance meeting are not to be counted as part of the C ME requirement.
• Maintains appropriate credential in vascular testing. (ARDMS, C C I or approved equivalent required)
• Attends required inservices and applies knowledge gained appropriately.
• Mandatory competencies are kept current without management intervention.
• Participates in Lab Quality Assurance (QA) activities and attends a minimum of 2 QA meetings each year.

2. Helps coordinate patient scheduling.

• Maintains good rapport with the patient, ensuring cooperation during the procedure.
• Maintains a safe environment for the patient with stretcher side rails, placing call bell with in reach, etc.
• Maintains patient comfort with positioning, extra blankets, notifying nurse for any pain medication needs, etc.
• Demonstrates effective time management skills.
• Communicates effectively with other caregivers to accomplish tasks.
• Prepare patients for procedures by taking a patients history and answering any questions about the procedure.

3. Maintains a clean and orderly work area and ensures proper supplies are available.

• Prepares outpatient examination room for patient and regularly restocks with linen and other supplies.
• Prepares and maintains diagnostic imaging equipment in clean working condition by storing and cleaning per established departmental protocols.

4. Operates diagnostic ultrasound imaging and non-imaging equipment to obtain diagnostic images and blood flow data following established guidelines and protocols.

• Manually controls the equipment to obtain proper diagnostic information from the area of the body being examined.
• Must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments.
• Deciphers normal form abnormal in order to obtain appropriate tests and to shoe the abnormality in its entirety.
• Has knowledge of cross-sectional as well as sagittal anatomy and familiarity with normal and abnormal flow characteristics to evaluate for optimal testing quality needed for diagnosis.
• Follows established departmental protocols consistently.
• Create images of blood vessels and collect data that help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow.
• Use specialized ultrasound instruments or blood pressure cuffs to record information, such as the blood flow in arteries and veins, blood pressure (blood volume), oxygen saturation, to evaluate blood flow and identify blocked arteries and the presence of blood clots in the body.

5. Reviews clinical data from the medical record, patient interview, performs appropriate examination, and analyzes diagnostic information to provide a summary of findings for interpreting physician(s).

• Enters data into logbook, patient electronic medical record (EMR) and CPAC s per P&P.
• Review study with the physician, clarify any discrepancies, and perform additional testing if necessary.
• Communicates with patient and appropriate caregivers to ensure the appropriate exam has been ordered based on the patients physical signs and symptoms and that the indication is included with the order.

Qualifications and Experience

• An appropriate credential in vascular testing. (ARDMS, C C I or approved equivalent required.)
• Current C PR/BLS is required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in renal duplex imaging, aorto-iliac imaging, venous insufficiency duplex assessment, hemodialysis duplex, vein mapping for LE bypass or AVF creation and carotid duplex, arterial physiological assessment and arterial duplex imaging. Experience with Parks Flo-Lab, Seimens S2000, and GE Vivid E9 a plus.
• Has completed an accredited ultrasound program with a minimum of one (1) year in patient care setting or in a reputable noninvasive vascular laboratory, IAC accredited preferred.
• Has performed a minimum of 75 visceral vascular duplex ultrasound case studies and a minimum of 100 case studies for each of the following: extracranial cerebrovascular, intracranial cerebrovascular, peripheral arterial physiologic, peripheral arterial duplex, and venous duplex ultrasound.

Physical Requirements

• Concentrates on moderate to fine detail for extended periods of time with irregular telephone and other interruptions
• Hand-eye coordination: Must be able to accurately move equipment on the patients body in response to what is seen on the screen.
• Must be able to hear normal sounds with some background noise when answering the telephone or participating in meetings.
• Remembers schedules, tasks to be completed, where activities left off, etc.
• Routinely work in dimly lit rooms, perform procedures at patients' bedside, stand on feet for long periods, and be able to lift or turn patients who are disabled.
• Understands and can operate from the conceptual basis of tasks and activities