Job responsibilities
The
Radiology Service delivers a diagnostic and treatment service for
approximately 600,000 patients a year on 6 sites. The Service comprises
several imaging modalities, each with up to 100 staff, providing a high quality
clinical radiology service for patients.
The
job holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a
high-quality radiology service, carrying out policies and procedures as
specified by the Trust and Radiology Management Team. They will undertake a
wide range of duties to clinically support of the
Sonographers/Radiographers/MTOs and Radiologists and be primarily responsible
for the care of patients requiring imaging.
Duties
will include cannulating patients intravenously prior to imaging and
assisting patients to complete their pre- examination safety sheets. Duties
will also include assisting staff with interventional procedures such as
biopsies and injections and adhering to aseptic techniques. Other duties
include positioning patients for examinations, general cleaning, maintenance
and care of equipment (including basic fault finding), trouble shooting and
reporting of faults, stock control, clerical duties and data input onto the
Radiology Information System (RIS). The post holder will work to departmental
protocols and schemes of work.
Patients
are received from multiple sources and presentation ranges from the
unconscious to the fully mobile with uncooperative, incapacitated,
anaesthetised, partially resuscitated, disorientated patients and those with
special needs, physical and mental disabilities. Some patients exhibit
antisocial or threatening behaviour.
The
post-holder may occasionally be required to work at any site within Leeds
Teaching Hospital Trusts Radiology departments.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
Responsibilities:
Escorting patients in and out of
the examination rooms.
Helping patients on and off the
examination table.
Assess communication needs of
patients.
To anticipate where communication
difficulties might make completion of the modality checklist impossible and
to implement alternative. methods to ensure that patient safety is
maintained.
Communicate effectively and
empathetically with patients and their carers.
Assisting with moving and handling
of those patients who are immobile in a manner that is safe for all concerned
and following manual handling guidelines.
Reassuring and staying in
attendance with patients requiring additional support.
When necessary, attending to the
patients personal hygiene requirements.
Explaining the undressing/dressing
requirements to patients and where necessary assisting the patient.
Understand the role of a chaperone
and chaperone patients when required.
Providing and communicating after
care following invasive procedures.
Assisting patients with after care
following interventional procedures.
General help and assistance to the
Radiographer/Sonographer/Clinical Technologist/ Radiologist throughout the
patients examination, either in the department or on the wards.
To ensure appropriate infection
control measures are utilised where necessary, paying particular attention to
personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linens
contaminated by bodily fluids.
Initiate emergency procedures and
assist with basic life support.
Ensure safe handling of medicines
at all times.
Assist patients in completing any
safety forms required as part of their examination.
Following completion of safety
forms, evaluate the information provided to determine if the examination is
safe to proceed. Escalate if necessary.
Undertake venous cannulation.
Removing patient cannulas post
procedures.
To assess routine requests for
imaging so that patient position and selection of appropriate table equipment
is used to optimise image quality of the body part under examination. To
defer to the radiographer for complex examinations requiring adaptation of
standard technique.
To physically position the patient
for a range of routine examinations, to ensure that image quality, patient
comfort and patient safety are maintained at all times whilst taking into
account patient limitations. To defer to the radiographer for complex
examinations requiring adaptation of standard technique.
To prepare drugs/contrast media for
intravenous and oral administration and to load automatic drug injection pump
- following appropriate training.
When working in MRI, be sensitive
to patient anxiety regarding the claustrophobic nature of the MRI scanner and
to be able to help patients overcome their anxiety so that the examination
can be performed.
Administrative
duties:
To include registering the patient,
updating patient records, bookings, extraction of work lists and all other
associated RIS activities.
To enter accurate patient and
examination data into Radiology Information System.
Maintain accurate records at all
times.
Understand the contingencies
required when electronic systems fail.
Liaise with other departments/wards
within and outside LTHT to ensure a quality service for patients and
clinicians.
Monitor stock, operate stock
control and order medical equipment, accessories, consumables, linen and
pharmacy and order as required.
Dealing with telephone messages in
an efficient manner.
Report any adverse incidents to the
appropriate line manager in line with the Trust and radiology risk management
system.
Equipment
duties:
Basic operation of the specialised
equipment following appropriate training.
Wear personal protective equipment
when required.
Care for, check and maintain high
standards of cleanliness of clinical equipment to minimise spread of
infection.
Prepare trolleys and conduct
aseptic technique whilst assisting with interventional/biopsy procedures.
Maintaining high standards of
cleanliness in examination rooms to minimise spread of infection.
Ensure safe disposal of linen and
clinical waste from the department.
As part of the radiology team
ensure all equipment is maintained to a high standard and used appropriately.
Basic fault finding and reporting
and documenting faults.
Other
duties:
To assist in promoting the overall
aims of the department.
To participate in department
organisation and workload planning offering proposals to change department
procedures.
To assist in the training of other
members of staff.
To assist qualified staff in the
evaluation of resources to develop high standards of patient care and achieve
value for money initiatives.
Participate in the individual
performance review system.
Undertake hand hygiene audits.
To be responsible for own mandatory
training and ensure it is up to date
To attend departmental meetings
when required.
To be aware of and comply with all
standards of conduct and care related to the Trust in general and the
Department of Radiology in particular.
Develop and maintain an appropriate
level of knowledge and understanding in the methods of image production.
To be aware of the current Ionising
Radiation Regulations if working in areas involved with radiation, Employers
procedures and local rules.
To be aware of the potential
hazards of strong magnetic fields if working in MRI.
Maintain and develop an appropriate
level of professional knowledge and understanding to enable the safe delivery
of practice.
To participate in personal
development needs that may be identified by the team manager or in the
appraisal process in an agreed timeframe.
Supervise safe work practices of
NHS staff and students in a hazardous environment.
To keep accurate and timely records
of own work and that of other members of the radiology team.
To participate in audit projects,
either of their own work, that of the department or others, as required.
Additional
duties as requested by the management team, commensurate with the grade.
