MRI Technologist

The duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Receive referred examination subjects and explain procedures, provide appropriate care and communicate to alleviate the fear of examination.
• Correctly position the subjects for the examination and perform adjustments necessary for the required examination. Determine if any special patient preparation is required.
• Set up patients and perform necessary adjustments and patient position as prescribed by the Diagnostic Radiologist or senior MRI Technologist.
• Operate facility-provided MRI scanners according to treatment facility policy and procedures, and IAW Joint Commission (JC) guidelines.
• Perform a full range of MRI examinations, with no additional training needed, or minimal training for site-specific procedures; the contractor shall bear the cost of additional training if needed.
• Receive and interpret requests or instructions for MRI scans. Perform daily warm-ups and assigned quality control checks of the MRI scanner.
• Identify abnormalities during testing and determine the need for additional scans of the affected area. Notify the physician of significant scans requiring immediate attention.
• Maintain and clean MRI equipment regularly by MTF policy and procedures, and IAW JC guidelines.
• Stock and maintain an adequate level of supplies required to perform MRI examinations. Recommend necessary monthly repairs when diagnostic quality is degraded.
• Differentiate artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognize electronic equipment limitations.
• Program the examination equipment. Set up the machine and scanning techniques to be employed. Perform all MRI examinations according to MTF policy and procedures, and IAW JC guidelines.
• Operate independently and with no direct supervision or assistance for several hours daily, and all day as needed to cover other employees’ absences.
• Ensure compliance with the standard of care and practice by all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the treatment facility and IAW JC guidelines.
• Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Complete orientation and competency verification programs by unit guidelines.
• As required, participate in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services.
• Perform daily warm-up and quality control checks of MRI equipment as per manufacturers’ or technical representatives’ recommendations.
• Operate MRI equipment. Perform operator-level maintenance and care of equipment. Identify the need for repair or maintenance and initiate action to obtain higher-level support.
• Serve as a medical team member on assigned shift. Responsible for direct patient care as well as coordination with professionals, paraprofessionals, and inter and intra-disciplinary medical team members in total patient care activities. The Health Care Workers (HCWs)s must be able to initiate emergency measures and notify physicians when necessary.
• Independently coordinate the acquisition of gated images, using both cardiac and respiratory gating signals, and including placement of gating detection devices.
• Maintain patient comfort during the scan to minimize movement; for longer scans, extra steps must be taken to minimize movement.
• Position and verify the operation of visual and audio presentation equipment within the scanner and verify the operation of patient response devices.
• Communicate clearly and frequently with the patient while in the scanner. Issue vocal instructions as needed for functional MRI tasks. A clear speaking voice and a good command of the English language are required to be heard and understood in this very noisy environment.
• Adequate hearing ability is required, to hear patients in the MRI scanner who may speak through the MRI scanner microphone system regarding questions or concerns.
• Review MRI images for quality control, contrast, density, detail, and adequate demonstration of anatomy and positioning, adjusting technique and equipment to best present the medically significant aspects found if unanticipated conditions or anomalies are discovered, and extend and modify procedures to ensure full and accurate information as to findings and patient condition.
• Receive patients, explain the method of procedures, position patients, and transfer patients by Department policy.
• Select and set the technical factors, set up and adjust accessory equipment, and make images necessary for the requested procedures by department policy.
• Complete each scan within a reasonable time to maintain the patient’s schedule. Input/type resulting patient radiology case data into the Composite Health Care System (CHCS) database for the accession of records. The CHCS is a Department of Defense-specific automated support system used for radiology report storage and retrieval. Perform clerical functions necessary to process patient records through the Department of Radiology. Must have the ability to operate a computer keyboard and mouse on the standard MRI scanner equipment.
• Properly label images, and anatomical parts, and position the anatomical parts in a plane when applicable, by Department policy.
• Recognize medically significant findings during MRI examinations, this includes the nature, significance, and appearance of major diseases and injuries. This requires a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy, especially cross-sectional anatomy, and physiology.
• Properly affix the patient’s identification data on all appropriate images by Department policy.
• Continually monitor patients’ conditions for potential medical or life-threatening crises.
• Observe and report patient responses to instructions, movement, touch, etc., if significant.
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of NMR theory/ and its application to MRI, including the effect of magnetic fields on surgical clips, cardiac pacemakers, small electrical equipment (I-Meds, defibrillator, etc.), jewelry, prostheses, metal fragments, etc. to ensure patient safety and prevent image degradation.
• Maintain constant vigilance for the introduction of metallic and other prohibited materials into the MRI scanner.
• Maintain professional competency involving clinical skills and knowledge through participation in professional magnetic resonance imaging technology organizations, self- directed journal readings.
• Complete department forms and report accurately and promptly when appropriate. Transfer all completed studies into PAC Systems and verify the transfer.
• Reformat images according to Protocol or radiologist specifications.
• Perform routine assignments without requiring specific guidelines and procedures from the supervisor. Supervisors will be available when unusual or unfamiliar situations occur.
• Shall adhere to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) standard for Radiologic technologists and other applicable standards associated with providing magnetic resonance imaging care. ARRT standard rules and regulations will be provided at the time of orientation.
• Technologists shall comply with written Department of Radiology administrative policies. Access and retrieve information contained in the Composite Health Care System (CHCS), Clinical Information System (CIS).
• Demonstrate knowledge of military command structure, staff procedures, and military protocol; excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work and make decisions independently are required. Must be able to establish credibility and interact with senior leadership.
• Know the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) to enable the technologist to review, evaluate image quality, orient, and align images properly to PACS. Manipulate, format, and print images as necessary.
• Adhere to radiation safety policies and procedures by the Radiology Department policies and procedures.
• Send the appropriate image series to the radiologist for reading according to MTF protocol.
• Correctly position the patient for the examination and make technical adjustments necessary for the required examination. Determine if any special patient preparation is required.
• Process digital images and submit them for interpretation by radiologists.
• Document all procedures and maintain records by MTF policy.
• Initiate repair call procedures for equipment malfunctions by notifying designated Government personnel. Report problems to the Biomedical Repair Section and record the problem condition in the trouble call logbook.
• Perform an inventory of assigned exam rooms to ensure adequate supply quantities and valid expiration dates.
• Adhere to infection control guidelines and practice universal precautions.
• Perform Intravenous puncture on patients requiring IV contrast.