Mammography Tech

About the Role

As a member of the health-care provider team, the Technologist works directly with patients and physicians, performing specialized tasks involved in Mammography and bone density exams. The role also includes preparing and obtaining consents for Ultrasound or MRI patients. The Technologist must understand principles of x-ray and radiation safety, operate various types of equipment, obtain specific radiographic exposures, process images, and provide professional patient care. This position performs procedures at a technical level that does not require constant supervision, using independent judgment and initiative in applying prescribed ionization radiation for radiologic diagnosis.

Responsibilities

• Ensures practice adheres to the Scope of Practice as defined by ARRT.
• Prepares the examination room and briefs patients on procedures, including what will be required of them.
• Positions patients for exams using immobilization and protective equipment as necessary.
• Observes patients during examinations and operates equipment according to protocols.
• Provides radiation protection in accordance with ALARA principles and practices sterile technique to prevent cross-contamination.
• Ensures all required consent forms are completed prior to examinations.
• Verifies patient information on data pages and evaluates images for technical quality before transmission to PACS.
• Transmits images to PACS, tempPACS, or vRad as required.
• Transports patients to and from the department and assists with patient lifting and transport.
• Follows all established protocols and schedules patients in Cerner, ensuring medical necessity is met.
• Registers and orders patients in Cerner and Meditech, providing radiologists with comprehensive patient history.
• Confirms patient appointments prior to the day of the exam and ensures orders are available.
• Faxes or files radiology reports in a timely manner and reviews reports for critical findings, alerting staff as needed.
• Maintains an orderly and clean work area, conducts inventory checks, and stocks examination rooms as needed.
• Performs QA testing of machines and bone density equipment.
• Completes exams in Cerner Millennium and notifies management of necessary changes.
• Provides orientation and training to new technologists and assists in educating new physicians (interns, residents, attending, ER).
• Addresses the psychological and physical needs of patients during examinations.
• Acts in a team leader capacity routinely and ensures infection control precautions are followed.
• Maintains equipment in clean and working condition and upholds patient confidentiality.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and ensures availability to patients, clinic, and nursing staff across all shifts.
• Returns phone calls from patients, nursing staff, and physicians as needed.
• Dresses and conducts themselves professionally and courteously at all times.
• Minimizes absenteeism and tardiness and is available for extra duties as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the supervisor and adheres to NCMC Policies and Procedures.

Requirements

• Completion of an AMA-approved School of Radiologic Technology.
• ARRT certification in Radiology.
• IV certification and contrast credentialing, if applicable.
• BLS certification.
• Proficiency in all facility protocols.

Skills

• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Customer Service: Manages difficult client/customer situations, responds promptly to needs, solicits feedback to improve service, and meets commitments.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently.
• Quality Control: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors own work to ensure quality, and applies feedback to improve performance.
• Productivity: Meets productivity standards and completes work in a timely manner.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and handles frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events. Flexible to work weekends and nights.
• Dependability: Consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.
• Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures, uses equipment and materials properly.
• Language Skills: Reads and comprehends complex instructions, writes correspondence, and presents information effectively in one-on-one and small group settings.
• Mathematical Skills: Performs basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and computes rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Reasoning Ability: Applies common sense to carry out detailed instructions and deals with problems involving variables in standardized situations.

Core Values

• Integrity: Accepts accountability for problems and errors without excuses, truthful in all dealings, and fair with employees, customers, suppliers, and investors.
• Respectfulness: Treats everyone with respect and courtesy, values individual uniqueness, and is committed to understanding diversity.
• Teamwork: Works effectively with co-workers, mentors others, shares technical knowledge, and demonstrates good attendance.
• Accountability: Prioritizes patients and customers, attending to their needs immediately.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates job proficiency, willingness to learn, and effective interpersonal interactions.