Cath Lab Technologist

Overview

UnityPoint-St Luke's Hospital-Downtown

Full-Time Days 

7am-3:30pm plus call

PARAMEDICS....CARDIOVASCULAR TECHS.....RADIOLOGY TECHS....MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION!

As a member of the interdisciplinary Cardiac Cath Lab team, contributes professional knowledge and skills in the provision and management of care to patients undergoing invasive cardiac procedures. The Technologist will function within his/her scope of practice in collaboration with the Registered Nurse and under the direction of Physicians.

The Technologist promotes and restores patients’ cardiovascular health by collaborating with physicians and the multidisciplinary team while providing physical and psychological support in a holistic manner to patients and their families. Performs various roles in the Cath Lab setting including, but not limited to: primary assistant to the Cardiologist at the sterile table, secondary circulating and monitoring. Will be on call for off-shifts and weekends. Must meet requirements for standby call which includes a 30-minute response time from activation/call to hospital.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:    

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.  

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

Leadership:

• Delegates care activities and monitors care given by appropriate care team members in accordance with patient needs, and the team member’s professional capabilities and qualifications.
• Assists in creating a positive work environment by mentoring of staff/students and working with team members to develop and facilitate initiatives to strive for positive outcomes in quality and care of patients.
• Complies with all policies and procedures, and guides team members with compliance.
• Reliable attendance is an expectation of the team member role, as well as a leader in the unit.

Professional Growth:

• Assumes responsibility for continued growth in areas of competencies, lifelong learning and must participate on unit and hospital quality of care projects. Specialty certifications and continuing education are strongly encouraged (RCIS, RCES).
• Supports use of Evidenced Based Practice and incorporates best practices into daily care routine.
• Participates in mandatory education and unit meetings per established guidelines.
• Compiles with all safety goals, infection prevention and risk management policies and procedures.
• Completes annual mandatory education.

Communication:

• Communicates utilizing the FOCUS Values in all aspects of care and interactions with others.
• Effectively communicates with all team members, physicians, ancillary staff and all customers. Verbal communication is clear and concise, and written communication is legible and done using approved abbreviations.
• Provides patients/families with teaching throughout hospital stay for procedures and treatments while in the hospital, and to be prepared to care for home care needs. Referrals are done with appropriate disciplines to assure all patient/family needs are met.

Collaboration:

• Practice indicates compliance with HIPAA, DNV, OSHA and all other regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrates the ability to be flexible in meeting needs of the unit as a team member.
• Works effectively with multidisciplinary team assessing needs of the patient/family, establishing goals for the patient/family, and assists in development of quality improvements that may cross over from department to department.

Delivery of Care:

• Delivers high quality care and demonstrates knowledge and clinical skills of the specialty required on assigned unit in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Assists with ambulation of patients and uses assist devices as appropriate to protect patient and staff member.
• Documentation reflects complete information and accurate legal record of patient’s care.
• Follows compliance requirements for federally funded programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Compliance concerns are brought to the immediate attention of management or the Compliance Officer.
• Ability to assist cardiologist with left and right heart diagnostic and interventional catheterization.
• Ability to assist cardiologist with peripheral/ carotid procedure.
• Knowledge regarding proper use of temporary pacemaker and the ability to assist cardiologist with procedure.
• Demonstrates critical care skills to patients with higher acuity (ED, ICU, or OR.)
• Expertise related to basic electrophysiology including diagnostic and interventional procedures.
• Advance computer skills and technical skills required to operate EP specialty equipment, specifically but not limited to 3D mapping system for cardiac ablations.
• Ability to assist in implantable cardiac device such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
• Advance technical skills required to operate high risk equipment, specifically but not limited to Balloon Pump, Penumbra, EKOS and Impella, EP equipment including but not limited to 3D mapping systems, stimulation systems.
• Knowledge in lab values specifically associated to each procedure.Delivers high quality care while demonstrating knowledge and clinical skills of the specialty required in the Cath Lab in accordance with established policies, procedures and standards of care under the direct supervision of the physician.
• Demonstrates and maintains proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required in the administration of cardiovascular and emergency medications used in the Cath Lab including under the direct supervision of the physician.
• Demonstrates duties in hemodynamic monitoring and recording for pre, intra and post procedure patient assessment and patient care.
• Demonstrates and maintains proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required to prepare and maintain sterile fields and to maintain a clean procedure environment.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of radiation safety and practice including, but not limited to the following: Use of advanced imaging systems used in the Cath Lab setting. Use of radiation protection devices and exposure levels for both the associate and patient.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
• Able to perform the role of secondary circulator, scrub tech, monitor and primary circulatory (if within scope of practice).
• Must meet requirements for standby call which includes a 30-minute response time from activation to hospital.

Other Functions:

• Unit specific additional functions will be addressed in the competency checklist specific to the assigned unit. Additional certifications and requirements are unit based.
• Other duties and responsibilities as directed by the Manager or Organization.

Development & Patient Education

• Continues professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research.
• Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
• Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.

Qualifications

Education:  

• Graduate of accredited program in one of the following: Cardiovascular Technology (CVT), Radiology Technology (RT/ARRT) or Paramedic Science (EMT-P) required.  
• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred. 

Experience:  

• One (1) year critical care experience in ICU or the Emergency Department preferred. 
• One (1) year hospital clinical experience or demonstrated clinical efficiency in Critical Care preferred.  

License(s)/Certification(s):  

• Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT) - Graduate from an accredited school of Cardiovascular Technology with a degree in an allied health field OR Radiology Technologist (RT) - Must be ARRT certified or eligible and have current permit issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health OR Paramedic – Licensure in good standing in the state of Iowa as a Paramedic required.  
• Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification upon hire.  
• Must Possess and maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification within 60 days of hire.  
• Completion of one hour Stroke Education prior to the end of orientation and annually required.  
• Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reason required.  
• Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) through CCI preferred.  
• Cardiac Interventional (CI) or Vascular Interventional (VI) through ARRT preferred.