Mammography Tech (DH5010)

Navajo Preference Employment Act

In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act.  Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.
Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is located in Radiology Services, Ancillary Care Division, of the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) in Tuba City, Arizona. TCRHCC is a 68-bed General and Surgical Hospital that serves as the primary health care facility for approximately 40,000 Indian beneficiaries of the Western Navajo Nation, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute Indian Reservations.  The hospital provides inpatient and ambulatory care, emergency medical care and community health services (i.e., Environmental Health, Community Health Nursing, Social Services, Dental Services and Preventive Health).  Other medical services include Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Optometry/Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Radiology, Urology and Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT).

The purpose of this position is to serve as a dual certified diagnostic Mammography technologist and Radiologic technologist assigned to perform screening and diagnostic digital mammography in both 2D Mammography and 3D Breast Tomosynthesis and Radiologic x-ray services as scheduled.

Qualifications

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Must have successfully completed radiology training from an AMA approved School of Radiology

Certification/Licensure:

• Must possess a current valid Arizona State License in Radiology (R)
• Must have a current ARRT Certification in Radiology with qualifications in Mammography (RT)(M).
• Must have and maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association

Experience:

• Must have two (2) years’ experience in mammography with two years as a Radiologic Technologist
• Must also have experience in performing special procedures to include stereotactic biopsy, ductograms, and needle localization procedures, have breast tomosynthesis training and have worked with a Radiologist in assisting with special procedures.

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.  All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others and possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Must be able to work independently and be highly motivated, organized, and efficient
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills; eager to cooperate with others
• Process-oriented; adroit with technology
• Ability to plan for & lead effective team meetings and training
• Self-motivated and able to work with little supervision; meet critical position deadlines
• Experience with Microsoft Outlook products and Exchange services, including calendar and email
• Completion of and above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job 
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

 

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an   employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical:

The work requires ability to endure long periods of maintaining balance, frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, twisting, reaching, and must have ability to occasionally sit, drive, and climb. Position of patients who may be unconscious or disabled require considerable effort and working in awkward positions. Incumbent must have ability to frequently lift up to 75lbs and occasionally over 100lbs. Must be able to push and pull frequently over 100lbs and occasionally over a 100lbs. Heavy lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees available. Sensory requirements for position include ability for far, near, and color vision, depth perception, seeing fine details, hearing normal speech, hearing overhead pages, and hearing over the telephone. The ability of both hand manipulation is required, must have ability of simple and firm grasping, fine manipulation, and use of keyboards. Individual is required to be available for emergency call back services and is required to be at the duty station as assigned even though he/she may have had to work all night long on emergency call back.

Mental:

The incumbent must perform all imaging procedures that are complex and intricate as the instrument selection factors must be tailored to each patient habitus correlated with anatomical areas of clinical concern.  Diagnostic quality is markedly affected by the incumbent’s ability to maximally utilize equipment capabilities and to extrapolate relevant visual images on the screen to the recorded exam. Must have the ability to concentrate for a prolonged period of time, frequently handle a high degree of flexibility, and demonstrate a high degree of patience. Must occasionally cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in a calm way, manage altercations, handle multiple priorities in stressful situation, work alone, adapt to shift work, and work in areas that are close and crowded.

Environmental:

May frequently be exposed to hazardous or moving equipment. May also experience occasional exposure to infectious diseases, chemical agents, dust, fumes, gases, extremes in temperature or humidity, and loud noises.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. The incumbent independently performs both mammography screening and diagnostic exams. Trains and critiques the work of another technologist, provides assistance when procedures require assistance or when so directed by the Chief of Radiology.  Produces ionizing radiation within a safe permissible range as to achieve a quality Mammography and Radiologic, imaging processing.  Provide proper patient protection in accordance with prescribed safety standards related to radiographic examination.  Secure the confidence and cooperation of patients during examinations and procedures.  Assists physicians and radiologists in administering opaque media for all contrast prescribed radiographic examination.  As required by procedure or patient's condition monitors vital signs and notifies radiologists of any significant changes.  Assists in performing emergency first aid if required and delegated areas of authority in the performance of routine and special procedures, involving various tomographic examinations.
2. Incumbent will assist MSA in evaluating requests for critical and/or emergency procedures and changes the schedule to accommodate patients of a higher priority. Receives patients, explores methods or procedures, positions patients and makes the exposures necessary for requested examinations.  Explain procedures to the patient, positions and transfers patients to table for examination.  Independently performs standardized examinations, determines the appropriate thickness of cuts, and recognizes standard targeting techniques necessary to complete the examination.  Confers with the Radiologist in order to establish the requirements of non-standardized examinations, appropriate targeting techniques, and/or other deviations required performing a complete examination.  Maintains required daily logs of all patients, examinations performed, scans taken, etc., as well as general office work entering exams into the RIS, completion of paperwork, sending images to the PACS and/or TeleRadiology providers.  Technologist will be responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role prior to duties as assigned or where it is appropriate to place
3. As a Radiologic technologist, incumbent is responsible for review and evaluate developed x-rays or computed/digital generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. Use radiation safety measures and protection device to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff. Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan. Operate or oversee operation of radiologic digital imaging equipment to produce imaged of the body for diagnostic purposes. Position and immobilize patients on examining table. Positioning imaging equipment and adjusting controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination. Key commands and data into computer to document and specify image sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers or radiograph certain images. Monitor digital images and adjust density or contrast to improve picture quality. Coordinate work with clerical personnel and other technologist. Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to assist with special procedures such as upper and lower GI studies, arthrograms, VCUGs, HSGs, etc.
4. Practices sterile technique and prevents cross-contamination in various examinations. Ensures that sterile supplies, contrast materials, catheters and other required equipment are present and laid out.  Maintains patient records, x-ray file folders, check out files, quality assurance records, current operating policy manuals and other materials as necessary to insure adequate patient treatment and referral as necessary.  Keeps repair and maintenance records of the Mammography/ x-ray unit.  Procures stores and routes supplies for room preparation, recommends the procurement and necessity for maintenance and servicing of equipment.
5. As a Mammographer:
   1. Plans and performs standardized and specialized views of mammography utilizing digital mammography equipment. Transmits images of breast to Synapse PACS for radiologist interpretation.   Stores images of patient exams on discs for future reference for comparison. Prints hard copy films using laser imaging processor upon request.
   2. Conducts (operative) breast biopsy specimen examinations.
   3. Assists radiologist (or other qualified physician) in performance of needle localizations, cyst aspirations, needle biopsies, Stereotactic procedures, and other new mammographic procedures.
   4. Reviews images for positioning, compression, labeling artifact, and overall diagnostic quality. Determines the need for compression views, magnification views or other standard or specialized views as outlined in departmental policies.
   5. Assists the lead interpreting radiologist in developing and maintaining a mammography program which conforms to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.
   6. Participates in the Mammography outcomes audit of all mammographic exams according to ACR/FDA/MQSA Standards. Assists with the follow-up of all patients with abnormal mammograms and in the medical outcome analysis audit program. Fully participate with the implementation of all quality assurance related issues of mammography by performing all mammographic quality control procedures.
   7. Performs and maintains the daily, monthly and quarterly QA/QC as required by the FDA/MQSA program for accreditation.
   8. Along the with lead interpreting physician participates in the annual FDA inspection process
6. Performs general maintenance, the physical cleanliness by wiping spills and surfaces used for mammography, and mammography suite. This also includes ordering/restocking mammography supplies and maintaining an inventory of mammography supplies such as film, biopsy needles, biopsy trays, etc.
7. Incumbent will be required to ‘take call’ as part of the regular call/standby rotation and therefore per hospital policy must live within 20 minutes of the hospital.
8. Ensure proper PPE is always worn while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering face piece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield. 
9. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates)
10. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction
11. Performs other duties as assigned.