Ultrasound Technologist, Cardiology

Ultrasound Technologist, Department of Internal Medicine – Dallas Hearts and Minds Study (DHMS)

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued patients and employees. With over 20,000 employees, we are committed to continuing our growth with the best professionals in the healthcare industry. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you’ll discover teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for growth.

Job Summary

In this role, the Ultrasound Technologist will support the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study (DHMS), which is a continuation of the Dallas Heart Study, a longitudinal, observational study of more than 3,000 participants that began in 1999. The goal of this stage of the study is to characterize the biology of healthy aging with an emphasis on both neurocognitive and functional aging. This position will work in the DHMS stress lab to obtain echocardiographic images at rest and at submax workload on participants undergoing exercise testing and hand grip assessments as part of the third research visit with a target sample size of 2000 returning participants. The study will examine up to 20 participants per week over the next 2 years, The Ultrasound Technologist must display compassion, awareness, and cultural sensitivity; s/he should demonstrate awareness of research participant’s needs, readiness, and abilities; and comfortably interacts with participants and teammates alike and possesses superlative interpersonal skills. The Ultrasound Technologist must demonstrate the ability to accurately perform ultrasound procedures including but not limited to Cardiac Doppler, Color Flow Doppler, Tissue Doppler Imaging, Continuous Wave Doppler, Two-Dimensional Echo, pharmacological echo studies, stress echo, etc. The Ultrasound Technologist will learn new modalities as they become available. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. 

Experience and Education

Minimum Requirements

• Associates Degree in Ultrasound Technology or Graduate of Accredited Sonography Program. 
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS Registry) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI Registry) is required.
• BLS Accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross (ARC) is required.
• Two (2) years’ experience in ultrasound preferred; clinical training at UTSW may be considered as experience.

Job Duties  

• Maintains work area in a clean and orderly condition and ensures that it is properly supplied for procedures.
• Demonstrates conscious effort to be good stewards of hospital resources to ensure facility financial goals are met.
• Checks equipment and accessories to ensure proper working order and notifies appropriate personnel for repairs.
• Responds to inquiries/calls regarding procedures in a timely manner.
• Communicates problems on shift with equipment or pending exams with appropriate staff.
• Engages in equitable distribution of departmental workloads.
• Participates in a learning experience with new employees and students.
• Assists with scheduling and coordinating exams as appropriate to ensure smooth work flow.
• Performs quality control on assigned equipment and reports issues timely.
• Attends departmental and facility meetings/classes (minimum 90% attendance).
• Completes required courses/modules on time.
• Performs pertinent duties in the best interest of patients, personnel and the facility as assigned.
• Adheres to departmental time, attendance and tardiness guidelines.
• Wears employee ID and follows dress code policy.
• As appropriate, may assume supervisory responsibilities in the absence of the designated supervisor.
• Participates in all regulatory compliance activities.

Patient Interaction:

• Verifies the patient’s identification using the forms of ID as outlined in the hospital policies.
• Communicates with patients clearly and in a professional manner.
• Ensures proper patient preparation, verifies screening protocols, and answers questions.
• Evaluates patients’ history and symptoms for the procedures clinical criteria.
• Assist patient in dressing for exam and attends to patients’ physical well-being while transporting to and from exam room and table, and positioning for exam.
• Instructs/communicates with patient and/or patients’ family (as appropriate) regarding the tests to be performed and assesses the patient’s ability to tolerate exam.
• Must demonstrate and maintain current knowledge, continued education and skills to provide appropriate care for the following age groups (specific to department): newborn, pediatric, young adult, adult and geriatric.

Exam Performance:

• Verifies the requisition/chart for valid written order, priority date, ordering comments, physicians notes, precautions and patient consent forms.
• Performs high quality US examinations according to exam protocol in a timely manner.
• Assists the physician as needed in performing additional imaging or biopsy procedures.
• Ensures that images and records are properly completed with patient identification data and appropriate labeling.
• Utilizes technical knowledge and skills to perform procedures accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with age specific criteria.
• Completes exam charges and image documentation and forwards to radiologist in a timely manner.
• Administers intravenous injections of contrast material as appropriate, observes patients for adverse reactions.

Job Performance May Include:

• Monitors and trains students in all areas of current competencies.
• Assists in the orientation and training of new staff.
• Leads the work of technologists ensuring that procedures are performed according to standards.
• Participates in the modality specific QA/QC program and ensures compliance with regulations.
• Participates in various accreditation processes as directed. *
• *Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned. 

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/ 

For general COVID-19 information, applicants should visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/covid-19/work-on-campus/

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information. UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status. To learn more, please visit: https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/why-work-here/diversity-inclusion.