Radiology Department Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Care & Manual Handling

Prepare trolleys for aseptic techniques

Assist Consultant with aseptic procedures under ultrasound or fluoroscopic/CT control e.g. wound aspirations, drain insertion, pain blocks and biopsies.

Co-ordinate with ward staff, Porters and the department transfer techniques for special care patients’ i.e. Spinal injuries.

Monitor patients before and during clinical procedures, giving appropriate support as needed. Respond to emergency situations effectively and appropriately.

Advise and assist radiographic staff in carrying out patient transfers

Assist during routine and special procedures, restore and maintain environment.

Ensure the smooth running of interventional and Ultrasound lists. Receipting patients, ensuring that they are correctly prepared for the examination, escorting, chaperoning, and ensuring explanation to patients of how to obtain their results

Correct post-processing of ultrasound images. Responsible for ensuring images and reports are appropriately dealt with.

Supplies

Responsible for replenishment of all stock and non-stock items, liaising with Superintendent Radiographic staff

Removal of stock deliveries to designated area and ensures stock rotation is used

Responsible for the organisation of the storeroom ensuring it is clean, tidy and stock is stored safely within health and safety/CoSHH guidelines.

Collect supplies from CSSD when needed for department use.

Radiation Protection

Develop knowledge of radiation protection, equipment and procedures.

Participation in the QA and audit programmes.

CD Copying

Occasional running of the Departmental/ Trust film copying service including Medico – legal / record copying and digitisation service ensuring 40 day response clause is met where necessary.

Assist with requesting images from other Depts. / Trusts for Imaging Exchange Portal (I.E.P) needs.

Maintain accurate and up to date patient and departmental information, updating databases, producing invoices, lists and reply letters for clinical governance and solicitor’s information.

Respond to enquiries from solicitors / medical personnel

Maintain the principles of patient confidentiality at all times in accordance with Trust policy.

Ensure a high quality service at all times.

General

To assist radiographers/Radiologists in examination rooms when required, setting up equipment, assist in the positioning of patients and entering exam on computer system.

To carry out various duties, as delegated by the Superintendent Radiographer.

Undertake appropriate training and study as necessary to ensure that a high level of knowledge and expertise is maintained, including liaising with service engineers to obtain complete and up to date knowledge of processing equipment.

Assist in the transfer of sterile equipment from TSSU to the department ready for use and returning used items to TSSU for re-sterilisation ensuring the correct paperwork has been filled in. Chase up any missing items as necessary.

When department is busy, assist in the changing of patients from out-patients dept to help with the smooth throughput of patients. Assist with the ultrasound component of Spinal Injury lists to free up radiographic staff for duties elsewhere.

Comply with all legislative obligations, including the Data Protection Act, The Health and Safety at Work, CoSHH, Manual Handling Regulations (1992), Professional Registration and the Code of Practice for the use of Ionising Radiation and Local Radiation Rules.

To comply with the departmental rotas, protocols and records.

To be familiar with the departmental computer systems

To undertake such duties as may be assigned from time to time which are within your competence.

To co-operate with all measures the Trust take to maintain a safe working environment. This includes using manual handling equipment, wearing personal protective equipment etc.

To comply with all instruction and training given by members of the Trust relating to health and safety

To have a responsibility for ensuring that they are committed to maintaining a high quality service to patients by continual development of practice in the light of new research evidence, National Service Frameworks, NICE guidance, and by audit against clinically relevant standards.

To suggest and implement improvement to services exercising professional responsibility, including lifelong learning within an open “no blame” culture.