Mammography Tech: MetroHealth Medical Center

Job Summary:

Performs mammographic procedures utilizing dedicated mammography equipment for the diagnosis of breast cancer and diseases. Provides appropriate age-specific patient care. Performs quality assurance appropriate for mammography. Upholds the standards of the system-wide customer focus program.

Responsibilities:

Contributes to patient safety by:

a. Providing a safe environment for patients.

b. Reporting safety concerns, errors and near misses.

c. Participating in system improvement initiatives to prevent errors.

d. Providing evidence-based care as applicable to the role.

1. Performs mammographic procedures utilizing dedicated mammography equipment for the diagnosis of breast disease including:

a. Reviewing physician’s instructions and patient clinical data to determine diagnostic or screening exams in accordance with American College of Radiology specifications.

b. Consulting with physician and/or radiologist regarding patient history, examinations and films.

c. Selecting exposure factors based on breast tissue density, patients’ age, numerical compression scale and equipment characteristics.

d. Processing and reviewing films for technical quality, proper contrast, artifacts, identification and labeling and providing corrective action when necessary.

e. Setting up sterile field and ultrasound equipment (no ultrasound experience required) for special procedures; assisting physician during biopsy and aspiration procedures.

f. Contacting referring/requesting physician when necessary regarding patients.

g. Performing research projects under the supervision of the radiologist and/or physician.

h. Referring complex situations to the section leader; recommending appropriate solutions.

2. Provides appropriate customer focused services by:

a. Interviewing patients; gathering necessary information to include, but not limited to, breast history (surgeries, biopsies, procedures, and implants) family history, personal history and document accordingly.

b. Educating patients regarding mammography procedures, breast self examination, American Cancer Society guidelines, etc; responding to patient questions regarding health issues using American Cancer Society guidelines, offering pertinent literature to patients.

c. Preparing the patient for positioning and procedures by giving thorough, easy to understand instructions.

d. Retrieving and/or maintaining patient’s reports and films; assuring appropriate consent forms have been gathered.

e. Administering first aid/CPR in emergency situations and initiating code procedures as needed.

3. Performs quality assurance testing appropriate for mammography by:

a. Complying with all specifications necessary for the American College of Radiology accreditation procedures and the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) yearly inspections.

b. Performing equipment evaluations, safe light testing, and other basic ACR tests, and reporting malfunctions to appropriate personnel so that corrective action can be taken and documented.

c. Ensuring that assigned areas are neat, orderly, accurately supplied and dated, as necessary. Maintains and rotates supplies and inventory.

4. Performs routine Radiology Information Systems (RIS) mammography module functions.

5. Keeps abreast of technological developments; maintains appropriate continuing education credits per Food and Drug Administration and Mammography Quality Standards Act(FDA/MQSA) requirements.