Echocardiographer at Tenwek Hospital

Job Purpose

• The role-holder is to provide echocardiography services within the respective department, in order that the patient/client receives quality care for the honour and glory of God in line with hospital policies and prevailing regulations.

Duties And Responsibiliyies:

• Review the patient’s medical record to obtain necessary clinical information, including patient history, lab results, and requisition orders.
• Obtain patient clinical information and compare requisition orders to ensure exam accuracy
• Communicate with patients and family members in a timely and thorough manner, enhancing the patient experience, promoting learning to understand procedures and symptoms, and supporting health care outcomes.
• Provide emergency care for patients using the basic support protocols until a primary or EMR team arrives.
• Communicate pertinent patient information to physicians and appropriate team members, including abnormal findings and changes in test results from previous examinations.
• Request work orders for maintenance of equipment to provide optimal working conditions of echocardiography and electrogram machines and equipment. Order and replace supplies used.
• Keep the exam area and procedure room stocked and clean.
• Train and provide educational support and mentorship to junior staff in basic echocardiography sills.
• Safeguard hospital’s and patients’ confidential information and property at all times.
• Promote effective interpersonal and public relations with team.
• Display Christ-like attitude and character both on- and off- duty
• Abide by the Tenwek Hospital moral code and Kenya Clinical Officers’ council regulations
• Maintain familiarity with the legal implications of clinical practice and ensure that legal requirements are met.
• Place EKG leads in appropriate positions for cardiac monitoring during examinations.

Specific Skills.

• Use 2D, colour flow and spectral doppler to accurately evaluate the full spectrum of cardiac lesions, including, but not limited to, stenotic and regurgitant lesions, intracardiac shunts, and other hemodynamically significant lesions.
• Evaluate the hemodynamic significance of various cardiac disease states using all imaging modalities available per the department’s protocols.
• Calculate measurements of echocardiographic structures and Doppler signals, deriving the appropriate indices pertinent to each patient.
• Recognition of abnormal pathology that requires timely or urgent review by clinical teams.
• Informing the interpreting physician if an abnormal finding and/or a hemodynamically significant change is present from the previous examination. (Complex adult and/or congenital heart disease).
• Respond to emergency examinations in the department and the hospital setting, i.e., intensive care units, wards, emergency room, cardiac catheterization lab, and operating room.
• Operate ultrasound system and assist exercise physiologist and RN during dobutamine and stress echocardiography.
• Perform contrast administration and agitated saline bubble studies. When needed, initiate IV placement
• Prepare written impressions of tests performed and preliminary reports for both adult and pediatrics and indicate whether studies require supervisor inputs
• Accurately process data needed to complete the report template in the electronic reporting tool.
• Direct patients to their follow-up department and or prescribe necessary treatments.
• Process patients and submit final data.

Requirements:

Academic requirement

• Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery
• Preceptor ship / Certificate / Higher Diploma in Cardiac SonographyBLS and preferably ACLS Certified
• Have a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in a busy cardiac Hospital or related field