CT Radiographer

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job summary:

To work as a skilled and experienced Radiographer as an active member of the Cross Sectional Imaging service CT team. Using initiative, skills and knowledge to provide a high quality, professional service at all times.

To have a working knowledge of Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER) and safe working practice associated with CT and Radiology. Able to deliver and assist in day-to-day running of the CT department.

To exercise awareness of patient examination targets and manage lists accordingly providing a consistent high quality of patient care and have communication skills which reassure anxious patient mix. Ability to prioritise and organise workload including modification of scanning lists to accommodate urgent and emergency cases.

Job responsibilities:

1. Communication:

• To oversee the day-to-day organisation of cross sectional services, providing leadership and a role model for other radiographers, especially for those rotating through CT.
• Arrange the daily workload for the team; liaise with ward and departmental staff to organise inpatient transport and ensure all patients are correctly prepared for their scans.
• Frequent management of queries from patients and members of hospital and other medical staff via the telephone. This daily occurrence relates to issues including patients who are extremely anxious about their examination, patients who are keen to know the waiting times for their appointments, medical staff seeking advice with respect to availability of results, appropriateness of cross sectional imaging for specific causes and availability of appointment times.
• Routinely consent and check patient safety questionnaires. Delicate and personal questions are discussed, such as pregnancy status for any female between the age of 11-54 and other medical history.
• Effectively communicate with all grades of staff, carers and patients. Adaptation of skills is needed to explain and carry out a variety of procedures. Some patients may be elderly, confused, intoxicated, aggressive, paediatric or have special needs. Claustrophobic patients require special reassurance and persuasion. Empathy, tact and persuasion skills may also be needed for patients undergoing or about to undergo cancer treatment or staging. Leadership communication skills will also be required.
• Support new staff in induction. Teach and promote awareness and compliance with policies and protocols.
• Remain professional at all times. Listen with other clinical teams to maintain good public relations with the general public and other interest groups.

2. Analytical and judgemental:

• To work unsupervised in a specialist area with autonomy making judgements on protocol.
• Review CT images acting appropriately on significant pathology if identified.

3. Planning and organisational Skills:

• Prioritise workload allowing for clinical need and urgency. Provide timely, efficient and courteous provisions of cross sectional services to the agreed standards of the department.
• To ensure cross sectional waiting times are kept to a minimum and meet government, Trust and departmental targets by assisting with ongoing planning (short and long term) and implementing waiting list initiatives as required. This includes assisting with the co-ordination of a range of other professionals to meet the organisational requirements.
• Encourage cohesive working arrangements within a small unit and all other working areas, monitoring patient throughput and redistributing where necessary.

4. Clinical Duties:

• Work closely with other cross sectional practitioners, superintendent and radiologists to provide a high quality service.
• Perform all CT scans as required following the departmental protocols.
• Be proficient in Intravenous Cannulation. Administration of contrast, being aware of reactions and the action/treatment required. Be proficient in using an automated intravenous pump and associated intricate connections.
• Accept referrals from other disciplines, adhering to Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulation (IRMER), on justification of procedures. Advise other disciplines on the safe use of ionising radiation. Refer to other disciplines where appropriate.
• Ensure requirements of radiation administration and protection are observed as identified in the department local rules, procedure protocols and guidelines.
• Be proficient with scanning patients from all referrer types, out patient, ED, wards.
• Be proficient in controlling violence and aggression and in employing talk down skills when working single-handed in department during on call.
• Develop expertise in cross sectional radiography to be able to act correctly on the information received.
• To participate in on-call systems as required, working unsocial hours and independently in unpredictable situations with workload, emergencies and sometimes aggressive, intoxicated and confused patients.
• To carry out tasks delegated by the Superintendent Radiographer.

5. Governance:

• To record all prescribed contrast media in accordance with patient group directives.
• To request, record and understand patient blood results prior to safe administration of IV contrast media.
• To demonstrate awareness of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) and incidence with contrast media.
• Participate in stock control and maintenance. Liaising with scanner engineers by telephone to report faults.
• Participate in setting up and implementation of quality assurance procedures.
• Understand how the Undergraduate Radiography course runs to enable teaching and supervision of students on a daily basis.
• To undertake all Radiation, Health & Safety procedures as applicable to the department and/or Trust.
• Adhere to department policies on Infection Control and the Handling and Clearing of Bodily Fluids.
• Adhere to departments COSHH regulations including dealing with a chemical spillage.
• Participate in Governance and support the Governance Radiographer Practitioner in departmental audits, setting up cross sectional audits where necessary.

6. Finance and Resources:

• Complete financial paperwork for private patients, ensuring patients are charged in line with the trust private patient agreement.

7. Leadership and management:

• Provide dedicated training to inexperienced radiographers and students rotating through CT.
• To be involved in discussion and implementation of new policies for the CT scanner.
• To set and maintain high standards with the cross sectional team. Be able to train and supervise others in working towards those standards.
• Maintain Continued Professional Development, particularly in cross sectional imaging, visiting specialist centres where appropriate.
• Participate in formal appraisal programme.
• Flexible approach to cover an extended working week and weekend hours for CT on call. Adhoc shift changes are accepted practice according to service demands.

8. Information Resources:

• Manipulate complex, expensive instruments ensuring safe use of equipment. To be responsible for the management of patient images and data including processing, archiving, copying, image contrast and multi-planar image display.
• Record radiation doses on the Trust computer system of patient x-ray records. Record pregnancy status where appropriate.
• Participate in the STAT alert system(this is a system in which radiographers alert radiologists of management changing pathology).
• Be proficient in IT skills. Be able to enter patient details, access patient records/history and retrieve images on the Trust’s computerised radiography systems and workstations as well as the patient archiving and communication system.
• Be proficient in the use of the trust electronic patient record system, updating patient notes when required and referencing patient results when essential for their CT scan.
• Use of the trust Datix system for recording incidents.

9. Research & Development:

• Participate in clinical trials when required.
• Maintaining an interest in the profession and knowledge of new techniques and protocols, attending courses where necessary. Continued Personal Development planning with guidance for the Appraisal system.
• To participate in mandatory training of Fire Safety, Resuscitation and Manual Handling procedures and ensure these are followed.

Expected to participate in the training programme in place for radiography students and, on occasion, other students including school leavers and pre-registered doctors. It is also necessary to teach less experienced radiographers in cross sectional techniques