Chief Radiologic Technologist jobs in Los Angeles, CA

DEFINITION:
Performs radiographic procedures employing the use of X-rays to produce images of various parts of the body for the diagnosis of pathological and traumatic disorders.

• Receives and reviews physician's request for radiographic procedure and identifies the patient.
• Sets up examination room, materials and equipment including selection of appropriate film, grids, collimators, camera, cassettes, syringes, opaque media, and catheters specified in equipment and procedure manuals.
• Performs a variety of orthopedic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, obstetric, head and neck radiographic procedures, or mammography or body section radiography including delicate structures as in the inner ear.
• Selects and computes machine settings to compensate for such variances as patient size, age, sex and tissue density.
• Selects proper film size, positions equipment at proper distance and angle, and adjusts cones or collimators to image a specified area.
• Accurately positions the patient when the patient cannot be moved, deviates from basic positioning guidelines by angulating the X-ray tube and the film to avoid re-injury, discomfort and pain, or intruding the sterile field.
• Mixes and administers barium by standard dilution for upper and lower gastrointestinal and colon exams.
• Produces radiographs during other contrast media studies such as gallbladder series, cholangiograms, cystograms and pyelograms.  Recognizes symptoms of reaction to contrast media and reports such reaction to a physician.
• Elicits the cooperation of patients by explaining procedure, attempts to comfort those who fear radiographic examination by providing assurance.
• Evaluates the patient's condition and applies immobilizing devices when the patient cannot cooperate.
• Uses supportive devices such as sandbags, angle boards and binders to obtain precise position.
• Uses equipment and lead shields, such as gloves and aprons, in accordance with State requirements for safety.
• Assists in the clinical training of radiologic technology students, and in familiarizing newly employed technologists with examination procedures by demonstrating selection of machine control settings, positioning the patient and checking for and identifying acceptable image quality.
• Operates mammographic, tomographic or conventional and mobile radiographic units; pushes or operates mechanically drive mobile units and performs radiographic procedures in medical and obstetrics wards and in surgery under sterile conditions. 
• Process exposed film to produce quality radiographs.
• Conduct classroom instruction of radiologic technology students and other personnel in basic radiologic technology.
• Checks the operation of equipment daily by performing tube warm up and fluoroscopic tests, comparing a blank image with a standard image, observing a fluoroscopic image for definition, an checking switches and conduits for function.