ECHO TECHNICIAN / CARDIOVASCULAR

Role Overview

Echo Technician / Cardiovascular at American Hospital Dubai, providing patient care and performing cardiology diagnostic test procedures for adult, paediatric and neonatal patients.

Company Overview

American Hospital Dubai and the American Heart and Vascular Institute (AHVI) operate under Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA), Dubai Health Authority (DHA) standards, and follow guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), American Society for Echocardiography, Inter-societal Accreditation Commission and American College of Cardiology.

Role Purpose

Deliver safe, high-quality cardiology diagnostic testing and patient care across adult, paediatric and neonatal populations, responding to clinical directives from Cardiology Consultants, Critical Care Consultants and other specialty physicians while maintaining compliance with international accreditation standards and clinical best practice guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Care & Assessment

• Provide patient care and assist with patient care requirements for cardiology diagnostic testing.
• Perform comprehensive patient assessment and reassessment before, during and after each clinical test procedure following World Health Organization standards and Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) requirements.
• Respond to patient emergencies and assist or perform Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) whenever clinically indicated or required.
• Communicate directly with the attending or ordering physician or Medical Consultant and immediately report vague or contraindicated diagnostic procedures, unstable patient baseline vital signs, preliminary but critical diagnostic findings or test results, test complications, medication adverse reactions, patient refusal to diagnostic testing and any serious clinical events or patient emergency.
• Provide the patient or patient's relative with clinical education for specific and prescribed cardiology diagnostic test procedures that include test indications, expectations, potential complications and specific instructions during the procedure.
• Identify the correct patient and assist the patient or patient's relative with the registration and billing process requirement.

Diagnostic Test Procedures

• Admit the patient to the department or visit the patient in a specified clinical area and independently perform the prescribed diagnostic test procedure.
• Demonstrate competence to independently perform the following cardiology diagnostic test procedures following CPD clinical policy and guidelines:
• Electrocardiography (ECG – Short Rhythm)
• Electrocardiography (ECG – Long Rhythm)
• Echocardiography (2D – 4D)
• Ambulatory Holter Monitoring (24/48 hours)
• Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (24/48 hours)
• External mobile Arrhythmia Monitoring
• Assist the Cardiology Consultant in performing the following advanced Cardiology Test Procedures:
• Echocardiography (Exercise Stress)
• Echocardiography (with Dobutamine)
• Echocardiography (Transesophageal)
• Treadmill Stress Testing (TMT)
• Passive and/or Augmented Tilt Table Testing
• Perform safe and quality basic and comprehensive cardiology diagnostic test procedures following the clinical policy and procedures established by American Hospital Dubai and AHVI.
• Monitor and observe the patient during the procedure and reassess the patient after the test procedure.

Documentation & Reporting

• Document all test procedures and clinical test events into the patient's electronic medical records (EMR) following hospital and established clinical policy and procedures of the department.
• Prepare all preliminary cardiology diagnostic test reports or machine-generated preliminary reports after each test procedure and submit a preliminary report copy to the Cardiology Consultants for immediate review, evaluation and final results.
• Review the quality of the cardiology diagnostic preliminary test reports after each patient's test procedure on all cardiology diagnostic tests.
• Complete the patient's diagnostic test Order Entry in the Power Chart after each diagnostic test procedure.
• Perform a follow-up audit for the turnaround time final test resulting in specific Cardiology Consultants for all diagnostic test procedures performed as per hospital and department policy.
• Prepare a monthly statistical report of all physicians who review and finalize results of all cardiology diagnostic test procedures performed in the department.

Equipment & Infection Control

• Utilize appropriate medical equipment during test procedures that may include cardiac monitoring device, pulse oximeter, ECG machine, treadmill machine, echocardiography machines, Holter machines, ambulatory blood pressure machines and external mobile monitoring system.
• Prepare all the medical equipment required for daily cardiology diagnostic testing and perform daily functional checks and calibration before diagnostic test procedures including checking all accessories and supplies required during the test procedures.
• Refrain from utilizing any medical equipment that failed functional calibration or bio-calibration and verbally report the equipment problems to the Biomedical Engineers and through the iService electronic reporting system for immediate inspection and repair.
• Disinfect all medical equipment after each patient's utilization following the Infection Prevention and Control clinical standards and as per hospital and department clinical policy and procedures.
• Dispose all soiled or used "single-patient-use" medical supplies after each patient's test procedure using the medical biohazard bin at bedside and following the Prevention and Control of Infection standards and the established clinical policy and procedures of the department.
• Perform the monthly inventory of all medical supplies, review the medical equipment preventive maintenance requirement and replenish all the requirements as applicable.
• Perform the daily patient room safety checks, respiratory emergency box checks and the patient room temperature and humidity checks following the established clinical policy and procedures of the hospital and the department.

Patient Discharge & Transfer

• Discharge the patient directly from the department after the cardiology diagnostic test procedure following the hospital discharge policy and perform patient reassessment ensuring that vital signs are checked and noted within the normal range before discharge.
• Communicate directly with the attending or ordering physician and the Cardiology Consultant and immediately report the sudden clinical deterioration of the patients who may require transfer admission at the American Hospital Dubai's Emergency Department.

Operations & Quality

• Review the patient's cardiology diagnostic test schedules, patient daily acuity and the patient's medical records before the test procedure.
• Participate in the Key Performance Improvement projects and Clinical Measures requirement for specific sections of the department.
• Perform a follow-up audit of specific Cardiology Consultant's turnaround time for final test resulting in all cardiology diagnostic test procedures performed as per hospital and department policy.
• Prepare a monthly statistical report of all Cardiology Consultants who review and complete the final results of all diagnostic test procedures performed in the department.

Qualifications & Experience

• Cardiovascular program (minimum two years course duration) or Certificate or Diploma in Nursing, Cardiovascular Technology, or Allied Health with any of the following additional diagnostic test experience: Electrocardiography (ECG), Holter and Blood Pressure Monitoring, Treadmill Exercise Testing and Echocardiography.
• Clinical and practical competency record of all cardiology diagnostic testing.
• Current/Valid Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License.
• Certified Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
• Minimum of two years of clinical experience in Cardiovascular Diagnostic Services.
• Minimum of two years of clinical experience to perform and assist basic and comprehensive electrocardiography (ECG), Echocardiography and Exercise Stress Testing, Ambulatory Holter and Blood Pressure monitoring.
• Minimum of two years of clinical experience working in the adult, paediatric and neonatal, critical care units preferred.
• Skills in different areas including the outpatient clinic, the inpatient ward, the emergency department, or critical care units preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Operate and troubleshoot all cardiology diagnostic test machines including the ECG, Echocardiography, Treadmill, Holter and Blood Pressure monitors, External mobile arrhythmia monitoring system and Trans-telephonic monitoring system during the diagnostic test procedures.
• Qualified and licensed clinical staff to provide safe patient care.
• Organized, resourceful and with strong abilities to implement and maintain the clinical and operational requirements of the department.
• Strong patient advocate and an excellent customer service-oriented individual.
• Driven and focused on maintaining the safety and quality of clinical practice following the established clinical guidelines.
• Experienced and competent to perform all aspects of cardiology diagnostic test procedures.
• Perform clinical duties and responsibilities with accuracy, as clinically indicated and as ordered by the physician.
• Strong ability and competence to operate and manage cardiology medical equipment and to maintain preventive maintenance requirements.
• Highly trained and certified to perform cardiology diagnostic procedures.
• Qualified to assist the Cardiology Consultant performing specialized or advanced clinical procedures at the bedside that include Echocardiography 2D with contrast, Stress Echocardiography, Dobutamine