Job was saved successfully.
Job was removed from Saved Jobs.

This job is archived

(Archived) Cardiac Sonographer - VA Minneapolis, MN

Last Updated: 2/20/20

Job Description

Place of Performance: VA-St. Louis Health care System (VASTLHCS)

Period of Performance: Approx 1 Jan 20 – 31 Dec 20 plus option 4 option years

Shift Expectations: Typical shift examples: 0600-1630, 0730-1600, 0800-1630, 1000-1830, 0800-1830. Shifts will be Monday-Saturday 8-10 hours, depending on clinic needs. Half hour lunches are unpaid. Staffing practices are subject to change due to staff availability and changes in patient volume.

Qualifications:

  • Certifications - The MIT (Echocardiographers) assigned by the contractor to perform the servicescovered by this contract must have a current certification in echocardiography imaging by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography ARDMS or by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCU) in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia. Competency and/or certification in vascular imaging is also desirable, but not required. All certifications held by the personnel working on this contract shall be full and unrestricted. MIT’s (Echocardiography) will not be considered for this contracted service if their certification has ever been restricted, suspended, revoked, voluntarily revoked, voluntarily surrendered, pending action or denied upon application.
  • BLS through American Heart Association

Core Duties:

The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) is a member of the cardiac echo team. He/she independently performs non-invasive examinations of the heart and great vessels using high frequency sound waves. They use sound waves to assess the structure of the heart, its function and assess valvular heart disease without the direct supervision of a Cardiologist. Independently performs a wide range of routine and highly complex ultrasound exams that are used in the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of patients. The modalities commonly used are M-Mode, 2-D Doppler and transesophageal echocardiography. Common uses for echocardiograms include assessment of left ventricular function, assessment of valvar heart disease, assessment of cause of strokes and evaluation of critically ill patients to determine if there is a cardiac component to their hemodynamic

  • Requires comprehensive knowledge of cardiac anatomy, disease states and the ability to skillfully use all echo modalities.
  • Explains routine and non-routine procedures to patients and other authorized individuals to ally fear of process, relieve anxiety to achieve proper positioning.
  • The MITs (Echocardiographer) must be alert to changes in patient’s condition which may necessitate immediate intervention.
  • Observe the patient’s condition, making notation of pertinent information, vital signs and other clinical information in accordance with the established practices and in response to physician demand or changes in the patient’s condition.
  • Recognizes serious patient abnormalities and individualizes each recording to the needs of the situation to produce reliable tracings of diagnostic quality.
  • Performs cardiac ultrasound examinations and quantifies observed abnormalities, including complex calculations of valve areas and alterations in function and ejection fraction.
  • Measure pulmonary artery pressures, valve areas, cardiac output, cardiac chambers, gradients and flow assessments.
  • Assists Physician during transesophageal echo’s in Cardiology Department and operating room during cardiac valve surgeries.
  • Assists Physician with echo-guided peri cardiocentesis.
  • Procedure and presence in surgery requires comprehensive knowledge of sterile technique and adheres to VA Handbook/Policy, VHA Directive 2006-041.
  • Coordinates verification of medication doses with Registered Nurses as second verifiers on the procedure table.
  • Observe special precautions for critical care and the operating room areas relating to their specialized equipment.
  • Recognize the interrelationship between test results, patient response and patient’s medical condition and immediately communicates critical values on technically observed abnormal findings to the Echo Lab Attending, Echo Fellow or other Cardiology staff per the Echo and the Cardiology Department protocol.
  • Maintain records of patient, examinations and digital disc archives in a secured database.
  • Provide instruction in diagnostic echo-doppler procedures and assist in the echocardiographic imaging techniques with Cardiology Fellows and Cardiology staff.
  • Makes multiple simultaneous changes in settings and adjustments in operation of equipment during an exam to ensure accurate results.
  • Evaluate and assess new echocardiographic equipment, or new techniques derived from the equipment.
  • Recognize electoral hazards and other outside factors which affect the technical accuracy and quality of the diagnostic imaging of the echo exam.
  • Clean echo equipment, maintain, prepare and calibrate the transesophageal echo probes and echo machines.
  • Coordination and communication between cardiology unit, patient and MVAHCS to promote teamwork and cooperative efforts to smoothly work together.

Company Details

Orlando, Florida, United States
Ghost specializes in providing Physicians, Advance Practice Clinicians, Dental Service Professionals, RNs, LPNs, Ancillary Care Providers and Allied Health Clinicians for temporary assignments with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The Department of Defense and Indian Health Service health programs as well as supporting commercial healthcare facilities nationwide. We also provide IT, Engine...