FT Lead Mammography Tech

Facility: Cobb Hospital

Wellstar Cobb Breast and X Ray Center is seeking a FT Lead Registered Mammography Technologist. The Lead Registered Mammography Technologist must be flexible with work hours to meet department needs. Must be dependable, accountable and cooperative. Assists with providing safe, age appropriate care to the patient by performing all exams provided by the department according to department procedures. Has the knowledge and ability to properly and safely obtain a quality diagnostic study. Responsible for performing a wide variety of technical procedures requiring independent judgement, ingenuity and initiative in the utilization of the equipment for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases. Able to independently perform job functions. Sets up the equipment to provide imaging service and positions patient for the procedure. Must maintain minimum FDA/MQSA requirements for continuing education, experience and equipment. 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 ACR and/or FDA/MQSA. Functional oversight of department in the absence of the chief tech. Provides feedback on staff quality of images and patient interaction to Chief Tech and/or Manager.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Equipment
- Demonstrates the ability to adjust technique so that patient receives the best study possible 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 and department cleaning schedule.
- Ability to properly operate all radiographic equipment in a safe and competent manner. Assuring that equipment is not abused and is left in good working order. 
Patient Care
- Obtains complete clinical history, gathers examination data and assesses for contraindicating conditions.
- Ensures that all studies have proper patient identification and right and left marker are utilized appropriately.
- Reviews radiographic images for clinically acceptable results and releases patients.
- Responds to emergency situations.
- Uses critical thinking skills.
- Seeks clarification on ambiguous orders.
- Assists other technologists in all modalities when needed.
- Observes patient condition and properly evaluates situations when physician intervention is necessary so that no patient condition deteriorates.
- Verifies two unique patient identifiers per policy and verifies proper clinician order prior to performing a procedure.
- Ensures patient's privacy and comfort is accommodated. Maintains patients dignity throughout the exam/procedure.
- Demonstrates competence in the determination and application of appropriate procedures, equipment, supplies and techniques based on the age of patients.
- Understands, demonstrates and documents pre-procedure verification and Time Out process when appropriate, if applicable.
- Demonstrates and understands pre-and-post procedural care, if applicable.
- Demonstrates and understands sterile technique, if applicable.
- Organizes schedule, time and priorities so that required activities are accomplished within designated time frames.
- Follows physicians instructions when assisting with procedures and exams.
- Practices RBAC (Read Back and Confirm) when taking verbal orders. 
Education and Communications
- Patiently and clearly explains purpose and nature of exam to patient prior to starting of procedure, to minimize anxiety and facilitate cooperation using AIDET; Acknowledge, Introduce, Discuss, Explain, and Thank you of all patients and family members.
- 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.
- Participates in the orientation and training of departmental employees.
- Provides patients with preparatory instruction and explanation of procedures.
- Required documentation is concise, legible and includes precise terminology.
- Reads email each day scheduled to work and follows through with assignment.
- Completes mandatory departmental and Hospital-wide education without prompting. 
Quality Control
- Produces acceptable images, as evidenced by maintaining a first-time acceptance rate of 95 percent.
- Ensures that equipment is fully operational prior to each use, by checking for proper calibration and operating deficiencies.
- Completes all studies in RIS, images are oriented, marked, labeled, and noted correctly prior to sending all studies to PACS; prints CDs as necessary.
- When submitting procedures for interpretation comparative studies are digitized if necessary and the preliminary sheet is filled out in its entirety, if applicable.
- Maintain all documentation so that the facility meets ACR Accreditation standards.
- Technologist is knowledgeable in completing and documenting the following ACR/MQSA QC test: Phantom, Visual checklist, Repeat analysis, Compression-pressure, compression thickness, flat filed test, calibration, Dicom printer test. 
Operations
- Restocks linens and supplies, and maintains Mammo department in a clean and orderly condition.
- Performs patient charging activities on the day the service is rendered.
- Applies shielding, when applicable.
- Prepares and maintains patient follow-up data.
- Willingly lends knowledge and assistance to others upon request as needed and routinely as time is available, without prompting, so that all working time is used for departmental advantage.
- Performs routine duties of clerical and support personnel in accordance with procedure when warranted to ensure continuity and quality of services.
- Keeps supervisor informed on all responsibilities on an ongoing basis, ensuring prompt notification in the event of problems or potential problems.
- Familiar with Mammography Tracking System.
- Maintains Joint Commission standards and any other regulatory agency standards.
- Familiar with FDA/MQSA EQUIP program.
- Any other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Education:
•    Graduate of AMA approved School of Radiology Technology; currently ARRT registered. Required

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.
•    ARRT Radiography
•    ARRT Mammography
•    Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s): n/a

Required Minimum Experience:
•    Minimum 3 years Mammography Tech and documentation of competency in mammography QA/QC. Required

Required Minimum Skills:
•    Competent in all aspects of Mammography, patient positioning, exposure factors and radiation protection.
•    Must have an understanding of anatomy and pathology as to how they affect the quality of a procedure.
•    Competent to perform all quality control / quality assurance tests based on ACR recommendations and OEM recommendations.
•    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 ACR and/or FDA/MQSA.
•    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 at all times.
•    Must be able to perform effectively in a stressful and fast paced work environment.
•    Must have the ability to 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 Mammography, patient positioning, exposure factors and radiation protection.
•    Must have an understanding of anatomy and pathology as to how they affect the quality of a procedure.