Job responsibilities
Main tasks and responsibilities
- To extensively utilise various forms of communication email, telephone, secure messaging services etc;
- To deal with requests from outside hospitals for images courteously, efficiently and competently;
- To take positive action if the availability of images is likely to effect a patients treatment, both inside and outside of the trust;
- To liaise with wards and other departments within the hospital;
- Deal courteously, efficiently and confidentially with all enquires, assessing priorities, and initiating action as required;
- To liaise with Radiographers and radiologists to optimise service to patients and identify any potential problems with regard to availability of images;
- To report any associated irresolvable technical issues with the systems to the appropriate support providers, providing sufficient information and assistance to allow swift resolution.
- Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)
- To take responsibility for the transfer of patients images to and from the Trust using a variety of media both electronic (e.g. IEP, SFT, P2P) and physical (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, USB, HDD, film, paper);
- To ensure all patient data is accurately identified and stored correctly within the Trust systems and during transfer to prevent misidentification;
- To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g. the requirements of the Data Protection Act);
- To work closely with the I&T Imaging services manager and PACS manager over a wide range of issues and to assist with their clerical duties;
- To ensure all possible measures are taken to preserve patient confidentiality;
- To work closely with the Imaging IT systems manager to assist in the support of the Trusts Cardiology systems.
- Any other duties that may become necessary following discussion with departmental managers.
- PACS system administration and housekeeping tasks including:
- Dealing with unspecified images.
- Image import and export.
- Data cleansing activities within PACS/RIS and other systems when directed by the PACS manager.
- Reconciling incomplete/inaccurate examinations.
- Creating and maintaining user accounts following appropriate protocols and procedures.
- Maintaining an accurate and up to date database.
- RIS system administration and housekeeping tasks including:
- Dealing with duplicate patient records
- Checking patient data against national records
- Reconciling PAS/RIS discrepancies
- Creating and maintaining user accounts following appropriate protocols and procedures
- To monitor and troubleshoot the departmental hardware and software, including where appropriate, installation, repair and maintenance, knowing when to report to and liaise with the appropriate staff including the I&T Imaging services manager and or other members of the I&T Imaging department.
- To be involved in data transfer, both locally and nationally, adhering to all data protection and patient confidentiality protocols and processes.
- To be involved in disseminating statistical information to the appropriate service leads.
- Assist in the day-to-day co-ordination of work in the team.
- The post holder will train users as necessary to use the current PACS and RIS systems.
- Respond to situations as they arise, including unplanned system downtime. Be familiar with the I&T major incident policy and all other relevant I&T imaging policies.
- With the support of the I&T Imaging services manager and deputies, independently problem solve and resolve issues, alerting the relevant staff members as appropriate.
- Respond to requests from system end users, both within and outside radiology.
- Participate in the implementation of new modalities/applications, working with different teams to ensure cohesive integration of systems and services.
- Be responsible for promoting the safe use of I&T equipment through both personal example and understanding of the importance of maintenance and proper usage.
- Assist in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for allocated incidents and problems.
- Ensure that personal skill levels and current systems/applications knowledge and expertise is maintained to a high standard so that the level of work resolved personally is maximised.
- Participate in in-depth training to extend own knowledge of the systems and keep up to date with latest releases.
Undertake other duties required by the I&T Imaging services manager due to the demands of the imaging service.
- Policy & Service development
To be familiar with all Trust and Directorate policies and to abide by them;
To observe the guidelines set out in the Image Data Transfer Policy, and keep accurate records;
To contribute to the updating of the Image Data Transfer Policy;
To attend meetings as directed by Imaging Managers.
- To prioritise and deal with the multiple tasks demanded of this role, in a timely and organised fashion;
- To allocate the limited electronic transfer resources appropriately, considering the various parameters of the data transfers requested (urgency, size, severity etc.);
- To order stocks of consumables when necessary.
- To take positive action if the availability of images is likely to affect a patients treatment, both inside and outside of the trust;
- To proactively alert management of any impending breach of tolerances.
- To transfer patient data both in and out of the Trusts Radiology Systems utilising various media both to and from other institutions following the relevant policies and guidance;
- To create CDs from PACS containing patients images to transfer to outside institutions.
- To liaise with Cardiology or other Imaging departments where associated data is also requested;
- To allow the effective internal transfer of information between Radiology, Cardiology, Echocardiology in order to service data transfer needs.
- To keep and maintain accurate records of image transfer requests;
- To use the Radiology Information Systems to identify unmatched data and action accordingly;
- To use the Radiology Information Systems to prevent duplication of transferred data.
To assist in research when deemed necessary by the IT Imaging services manager.
Core Behaviours
- To abide by the Trusts Core behaviours for staff and all other Trust policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.
Other duties
To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.
For further information please refer to the attached JD and PS.
