Mammography Technologist
Kaiser Permanente
Tacoma, WA
5x8 hrs, Days

Provide mammography services to patients in accordance with physicians orders. Prepare mammography rooms and diagnostic equipment. Perform high quality testing, operating equipment according to prescribed safety standards, and develop films. Exercise professional judgment and uphold medical ethics in performance of diagnostic services. Apply knowledge of the principles of growth and development to identify requirements relative to age specific patients. Maintain strict patient and staff confidentiality. Comply with all regulations pertaining to mammography (MQSA/ACR).

• Diagnostic Testing: Performs mammography images through clinical protocols and positions patient to best demonstrates anatomic area of interest, respecting comfort and ability. Demonstrates knowledge to perform mammography through the use of radiological equipment. Develops films in accordance with proper techniques. Evaluates mammography images for technical quality, assuring proper identification is recorded. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide radiology services to all age groups served. Provides patient education on procedures according to age-specific needs. Facilitates patients cooperation and alleviates anxiety by addressing concerns. Verifies appropriate procedure to be performed by checking physicians orders, outpatient prescriptions, and prior reports. Contacts physicians with discrepancies. Demonstrates complete understanding of the contrast agents for the certain studies and prepares desired contrast media.


• Computer System: Ensures patient information is accurately inputted into departmental computer system. Arrives, selects current account and completes patients for the appropriate procedure, as directed in IDX-Rad and IDX-Mam.


• Customer Service: Provides timely, responsive, expert services to customers in a positive friendly manner, to include patient, physicians, and other fellow employees. Informs consumers and those accompanying them when delays exist and how they are being addressed. Promotes patient focused care throughout daily activities. Provides quality patient care to include preparation, description of exam, communication of pain expectation, scheduling, and teaching all types of patient procedures as needed. Maintains strict patient and employee confidentiality, as appropriate. Explains how patient should expect to receive exam result.


• Patient and Employee Safety: Maintains safe radiation levels at all times to minimize exposure to patient, self, and others. No deviation from written procedures on radiation safety rules. Performs all necessary equipment checks prior to use. Ensures patient and regulatory standards are adhered to and suggests ways to improve patient outcomes when indicated. Completes quality assurance, quality control and radiation safety activities as appropriate. Establishes patients identification. Ensures no repeat studies due to failure to check armband and/or properly identified patient. Observes patient during procedures and reports any unusual occurrences or changes in patients condition to appropriate personnel. Ascertains allergy status on patients. Demonstrates educated and rapid response to contrast reactions as outlined in Policy and Procedure Manual. Assists in performing first aid as necessary, including Code 199 procedures and locating equipment on crash carts.


• General Behavior: Observes patient during procedures and reports any unusual occurrences or changes in condition. Arrives at the start of the assigned shift ready to begin work; takes lunch and break at appropriate times, and leaves work at the end of the assigned shift. Maintains neat, clean and well stock radiology room. Identifies staff training issues and participates in Policy and Procedures development as appropriate. Communicates concerns as appropriate to lead technologists and management. Works as an effective team member to efficiently perform radiological procedures. Rotates shifts and assignments as required including surgery and portables for Specialty and Hospital staff. Takes stand-by call as assigned. Regulatory: Adheres to MQSA and other regulation related to mammography. Adheres to Cooperative-wide Personal Protection Equipment, Universal Precautions, Related Medical Waste (RMW), Infection Control, Safety, and other OSHA Policies and Procedures.

• N/A

• High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

• Certified Radiologic Technologist (Washington) required at hire
  

• Basic Life Support required at hire
  

• Communication, problem solving-skills, and consistent excellent customer service.
• State of Washington certification as Mammography Technologist and American Registry of Mammography Technologists (AART-M) registration by date of hire or will train radiology technician with two (2) years experience.

• One (1) year of mammography experience.