The Sonography Specialist II performs a variety of technical imaging procedures that require independent judgement and initiative in the utilization of ultrasound in a dedicated academic women’s health facility that serves as a regional referral center for high-risk obstetrical care, including level 2 targeted anatomy ultrasounds and invasive procedures such as amniocentesis. The sonographer assumes responsibility for procedures performed.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
95%, Clinical Activities
Prepare exam room and ultrasound equipment in accordance with infectious disease, sterilization, and patient safety protocols, policies, and procedures.
Review patient medical history and supporting clinical information including records received from outside providers, hospital system and EMR.
Perform ultrasound procedures completely with independent judgement, initiative and accuracy. Assess the quality of sonographic images produced and state if there are limiting factors affecting the study. Communicate initial findings to patient in a manner appropriate to patient’s ability to comprehend information.
Accurately label each ultrasound performed. Complete all preliminary ultrasound reports and assure completeness of all ultrasound records and follow-up with referring care providers for MAHEC patients from all Departments.
Communicate ultrasound findings to care providers immediately if indicated by preliminary ultrasound findings. Obtain additional imaging as warranted by exam findings. Notify the maternal-fetal medicine specialist of any suspected abnormalities per protocol.
Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with privacy laws and organizational policies and procedures.
Assign appropriate priority to patient scheduling of work-ins and accommodate emergencies, if possible.
Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with co-workers, administrators, support staff, physicians, and other members of the health care team.
Assist with invasive procedures including chorionic villous sampling and amniocentesis.
Provide educational support and learning opportunities to rotating MFM fellows, OBGYN residents, and sonography students.
May be called upon for GYN imaging including 3-D, SIS, US-Guided IUD placement or retrieval,
5%, Administrative Activities
Attend monthly Fetal and Maternal Board conference and general office all staff meetings.
Assist with daily billing/coding responsibilities.
Assist with scheduling follow-up ultrasound appointments and coordinate with schedulers for high-risk patients with multiple appointment needs.
Provide real time feedback to and written evaluation of various learners rotating in the ultrasound unit.
Perform and document quality control procedures for ultrasound and sterilization equipment to ensure patient safety, optimal machine performance, and effective preventive maintenance.
Assist with image capture, reporting, and application preparation necessary to ensure appropriate accreditation is secured and maintained (AIUM, AAAHC, etc.)
KEY COMPETENCIES:
Communication Skills
Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient’s family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.
Decision Making
Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time.
HealthCare Knowledge
Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team, as appropriate. This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHEC’s organizational training. Finally, the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate.
Interpersonal Skills
Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace, professionalism, and understanding. Within your area of expertise, showing respect and showing empathy where appropriate with your colleagues, patients, and their family at all times, even when its most difficult to do so. This is done, in part, by effective listening, being your authentic self, showing responsibility and dependability, and being patient with others.
Organizational Values
Adherence to MAHEC’s founding principles and incorporating them every day. This includes, among others, having integrity and accountability, reverence for other cultures and equitable practices, ability to manage change, and displaying a clear understanding of organizational dynamics. Doing these things creates a culture where people want to do the best for each other and gives personal ownership towards the goal of helping people in their time of need.
Problem Solving
Having an analytical mind and ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems that may arise. The wherewithal to think logically through a difficult problem and come to an appropriate resolution for a given issue. This helps to drive continuous improvement by thinking through where we can improve in a novel way. Measures success by understanding where we are currently and where we want to go and then applying those new ideas to affect positive change.
SPECIFIED SKILLS
COMPUTER
Excellent skills with imaging software, Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database applications preferred.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Spanish speaking skills preferred and eligible for compensation add on.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Frequently stands, walks, uses hands to handle or feel, reaches with hands and arms, bends, talks, and listens.
Sometimes sits, climbs, and stoops or kneels. Lifts up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting/and or carrying objects up to 25 pounds.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High school graduate.
Graduate of an accredited diagnostic medical sonography program
Passed OBGYN registry
Three years of clinical ultrasound experience in women’s health
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Three years of clinical experience in perinatal sonography
Passed fetal Echocardiography registry.
REQUIRED LICENSES:
ARDMS or ARRT/RDMS registration and active status required.
SCHEDULE:
Regular attendance on-site is an essential function of this position. Typical business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (or flexed to best meet the needs of the clients and/or the Division); 40 hours per workweek; weekend, holiday, or evening coverage is occasionally required. Work hours will need to be flexible in order to respond to special work assignments, or evening activities, as requested by the team leader.
POSITION COMPENSATION:
$47.00/hour
At MAHEC, we strive to equip all team members with Total Rewards (pay + benefits) to honor their service, support their health, manage their financial security, build their career, and thrive.
All MAHEC employees and learners will be required to receive the Flu vaccine or have an approved exemption.
MAHEC Talent Management is located at 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Equal Opportunity Employer.
MAHEC is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Employees who meet federal requirements may be eligible to have remaining student loan balances forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments while working full-time at MAHEC.
If you are interested in this role, and you have related experience and qualifications, we encourage you to apply or reach out to [email protected] for support in your job search process. You could be the talent we are seeking for this or other opportunities.
Skills Required
- High school graduate
- Graduate of an accredited diagnostic medical sonography program
- Passed OBGYN registry
- One year of clinical experience in ultrasound with at least one year concentrated in women's health
- ARDMS or ARRT/RDMS registration and active status
- Proficiency with imaging software and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database applications
- Spanish language skills
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform frequent standing/walking and patient positioning
What We Do
Established in 1974 as a non-profit, the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) aims to improve the training and retention of healthcare professionals in Western North Carolina. MAHEC provides compassionate clinical care in fields such as family medicine, internal medicine, and ob/gyn, while training the next generation of physicians, pharmacists, and dentists through specialized residency and fellowship programs.
