The Lead Sonographer at TMH is responsible for performing and interpreting a wide range of ultrasound examinations while ensuring patient safety, maintaining quality standards, and assisting physicians during procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Perform Ultrasound Examinations: The Lead Sonographer conducts ultrasound procedures in neonatal, abdominal, vascular, and OB/Gyn settings. This includes using advanced imaging techniques to accurately capture anatomical structures and assess fetal development.
Patient Care and Safety: They ensure proper patient care, monitor patient comfort, and uphold safety protocols throughout examinations. Applying Universal Protocols and Golden Moment checks is essential to prevent errors and maintain patient safety.
Physician Assistance: The Lead Sonographer assists providers during complex procedures, providing real-time imaging support and guidance to facilitate accurate diagnosis and treatment plans.
Independent Judgment and Interpretation: While working under general guidance, the Lead Sonographer exerts independent judgment in evaluating anatomy and interpreting ultrasound images, identifying anomalies, and ensuring the quality of captured images.
Quality Assurance (QA) and Documentation: Responsibilities include critiquing all images for clarity and diagnostic utility, maintaining QA standards, and implementing departmental guidelines for quality control. Complex examinations may require independent initiative to ensure proper technique and accuracy.
Supervisory Role: As a lead position, the role involves mentoring and supporting other sonographers, coordinating workflow, and upholding consistent standards across the imaging team.
Required Skills and Qualifications
RDMS or ARDMS Certification: Certification in relevant specialties, such as OB/Gyn, abdominal, or vascular sonography.
Technical Proficiency: Competence with various ultrasound machines and imaging software.
Clinical Knowledge: Understanding anatomy, pathology, fetal development, and sonographic protocols.
Leadership Skills: Ability to guide junior staff, enforce quality standards, and manage workflow efficiently.
Attention to Detail: Ensuring critical structures are captured accurately, images meet quality standards, and documentation is complete.
Communication Skills: Effective interaction with patients, families, and providers to explain procedures and address concerns.
Professional Expectations
Maintain compliance with healthcare regulations and standing clinical guidelines.
Participate in continuing education to stay current with advances in ultrasound technology.
Ensure all examinations are performed safely, ethically, and efficiently, with accurate documentation for medical records.
Balance hands-on scanning duties with supervisory tasks, providing both clinical and operational support to the department.
In summary, the Lead Sonographer at TMH Center serves a crucial role in delivering high-quality ultrasound imaging, ensuring patient well-being, mentoring staff, and maintaining strict QA standards in a maternal-fetal medicine environment. This role demands a combination of clinical expertise, technical skill, independent judgment, and leadership capability.