Chad Sammons
New Ulm,MN
Summary
Dynamic and detail-oriented Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) with 28 years of specialized experience in Echocardiography, including 18 years in managerial roles, demonstrating exceptional organizational and leadership abilities. Proven expertise as an Echocardiography Instructor and public speaker, complemented by strong clinical acumen and interpersonal skills that foster effective collaboration. Extensive experience in demonstrating healthcare products and procedures across various settings, enhancing patient care and team performance. Additionally, five years of experience as an ICAEL Technical Director underscores a commitment to maintaining high standards in echocardiographic practices.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Mobile Cardiac Sonographer
Minneapolis Heart Institute
08.2017 - Current
- Travel to multiples hospitals and clinics to provide Cardiac Ultrasound exams.
- Produce high-quality diagnostic Echocardiography images and quantify complex cardiac pathology based on findings for referring physicians.
- Independently work through a full schedule of patients and resolve any issues with said patients, imaging equipment complications and collaborate with a Cardiologist or referring physicians to ensure the patient is taken care in a holistic manner.
- Complete all paperwork and appropriate exam charging as well as work in unison with the onsite staff to optimize time, efficiency and productivity.
- Multi-task general office duties such as answering multiple telephone lines, patient scheduling and completing exam worksheets.
Mobile Cardiac Sonographer
Shared Medical Technology
10.2016 - 08.2017
- Travel to multiples hospitals and clinics to provide Cardiac Ultrasound exams.
- Produce high-quality diagnostic Echocardiography images for referring physicians.
- Independently work through a full schedule of patients and resolve any issues with said patients, imaging equipment complications and collaborate with a Cardiologist or referring physicians to ensure the patient is taken care in a holistic manner.
- Complete all paperwork and appropriate exam charging as well as work in unison with the onsite staff to optimize time, efficiency and productivity.
- Multi-task general office duties such as answering multiple telephone lines, patient scheduling and completing exam worksheets.
Echo Section Leader
Sacred Heart/Saint Mary’s Hospitals
08.2008 - 10.2016
- Produce high-quality diagnostic Echocardiography images for referring physicians.
- Participated in Community Health Fairs.
- Administrator of GE Echo PACS.
- Coordinate the review, revision and creation of Operational Policies, and procedures annually and as needed within Echo Department.
- Supervise, train ancillary staff. Facilitate yearly performance appraisals.
- Coordinate Quality Improvement Activities (QIA's), to identify performance area for improvement.
- Conduct monthly Staff and patient rounding to ensure customer quality.
- Randomly review Staff Exams to ensure proper technique and adherence to department protocols.
- Participate in unit based Quality Assurance Program.
- Monitor an Echo Specific indicator Semi-annually to ensure Reproducibility.
- Develop and produce all office notifications for important policy changes, office news and events.
- Policy changes, news and events are conveyed to pertinent staff via email and in person with receipt confirmation required.
- Multi-task general office duties such as answering multiple telephone lines, patient scheduling and completing exam worksheets.
- Perform monthly inventory and maintain office and medical supply counts.
- Personally monitor monthly budget, supply cost, FTE ratio and check for outdated supplies.
- Supervised, encouraged and evaluated cross-functional teams by coaching and empowering team members to meet production goals.
Lead Cardiac Monographer
Rice Memorial Hospital
04.2000 - 08.2008
- Produced high-quality Echo images for referring physicians.
- Administrator of KinetDx/Syngo Dynamics Echo workstation/archive.
- Administrative user of ALI/McKesson Radiology PACS.
- Ensured HIPAA compliance.
- Trained Echo staff to provide top-quality patient care.
- Educated staff on practical and technical expectations.
- Facilitated Monthly Educational Meeting to review Pathology and new technologies.
- ICAEL Technical Director of Echo Lab. Maintained ICAEL Echo Lab Accreditation.
- Facilitated staff performance appraisals.
- Provided necessary health education training for patients and outlying departments. Presented Echo Guidelines to Nurses (Example: Appropriateness of Treadmill Stress Echo vs. Pharmacological Stress). Presented to Cardiac Rehab patients.
- Coordinated the review, revision and creation of Operational Policies within Echo Department.
- Coordinated Quality Improvement Activities (QIA's), to identify performance areas for improvement.
- Participated in unit based Quality Assurance Program.
- Monitored and evaluated Echo/Ultrasound and Radiology Patient Satisfaction surveys and presented the data to the Quality Assurance committee on a monthly basis.
Echocardiograph Instructor
St. Cloud Technical College
12.2002 - 12.2007
- Educated Students in Echo Normal and Pathological Physiology through didactic instruction.
- Facilitated hands on Echo scan lab.
- Instructed students in proper Echo scanning techniques and collaboration of acquired scanning skills with didactic knowledge.
- Prepared lesson plans and course outlines for Echo didactic and scan lab instruction.
- Evaluated and mentored students.
- Helped students find clinical rotation sites.
- Utilized Philip's Xcelera and Siemens Syngo Dynamics Echo workstation and archiving devices to evaluate students and for case presentations.
Supervisor Echo/Stress Lab
Hennepin County Medical Center
08.1999 - 04.2000
- Oversaw day to day operations of Echo/Stress Lab.
- Created and maintained all absentee calendars, schedules and staff meeting minutes.
- Monitored unit budget to ensure financial objectives were met.
- Processed monthly reports for department performance.
- Evaluated Echo Lab Budget, Monitored Payroll. Evaluated Productivity.
- Performed monthly inventory and maintained office and medical supply counts.
- Facilitated staff performance appraisals.
- Managed team of technical and ancillary personnel including Registered Nurses, Cardiac Sonographers, medical transcriptionists/schedulers.
- Maintained all confidential personnel files, license and CPR compliance records.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate co-workers.
- Guided and motivated staff by personally delivering excellent quality Echo exams and providing outstanding customer service.
- Participated and took vital roles in Cardiology Quality Assurance projects.
- Prepared for HIPAA and JCAHO reviews, ensuring required brochures and pamphlets were available to patients in all clinics.
- Coordinated the review, revision and creation of Operational Policies within Echo Lab, Semi-annually and as needed to ensure high quality patient care.
Cardiac Sonographer
Methodist Hospital
04.1997 - 08.1999
- Produced high-quality Echo images for referring physicians.
- Managed Echo Lab day to day operations in the absence of Supervisor.
- Collaborated with Supervisor the review, revision and creation of Operational Policies within the Echo lab.
- Prepared for HIPAA and JCAHO reviews.
Cardiac Sonographer/Stress Tech
Cardiovascular Associates
09.1996 - 08.1997
- Produced high-quality Echo images for referring physicians.
- Took and recorded patients vital signs and documented patient information obtained from interviews.
Education
AAS Degree - Cardiovascular Technology, Concentration in Echocardiography
Southeast Vocational Institute of Echocardiography
Sioux Falls, SD08.1996
Elementary Education - undefined
Southwest State University
Marshall, MN01.1994
General Studies - undefined
Worthington Community College
Worthington, MN01.1993
Diploma - undefined
Luverne High School
Luverne, MN05.1991
Skills
- Expertise in complex problem-solving
- Ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines
- Proficient in policy and program development
- Strong public speaking skills
- Prompt customer service
- Detail oriented
- Organized
- Effective cross-functional collaborator
- Client relationship development
- Healthcare training program
- College instructor experience
- Experienced in providing patient care
- Holistic patient care
- Culturally diverse care
- Protocol development
- Report generation
- Communication
- Task prioritization
- Professionalism
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Documentation
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Effective communication
- Adaptability
- Interpersonal communication
Community Service
- Advisory committee member, St. Cloud Technical College Echo Program, 2000-2010
- Student Preceptor, Various Echo programs, 1997-2009
- Board Member, Hawk Creek Country Club, 2006-2008
- Assistant Instructor, Kids Golf Clinics, 2002-2008
- Member, Rice Memorial Hospital Employee Activity Committee (REAC), 2003-2008
- Facilitator, Yearly Spring Golf Tournament for REAC, 2003-2008
- Educator, Youth Vacation Bible School, 1983-1988
- Volunteer Scorer, Bowling Tournaments, 1984-1993
Timeline
Mobile Cardiac Sonographer
Minneapolis Heart Institute
08.2017 - Current
Mobile Cardiac Sonographer
Shared Medical Technology
10.2016 - 08.2017
Echo Section Leader
Sacred Heart/Saint Mary’s Hospitals
08.2008 - 10.2016
Echocardiograph Instructor
St. Cloud Technical College
12.2002 - 12.2007
Lead Cardiac Monographer
Rice Memorial Hospital
04.2000 - 08.2008
Supervisor Echo/Stress Lab
Hennepin County Medical Center
08.1999 - 04.2000
Cardiac Sonographer
Methodist Hospital
04.1997 - 08.1999
Cardiac Sonographer/Stress Tech
Cardiovascular Associates
09.1996 - 08.1997
Elementary Education - undefined
Southwest State University
General Studies - undefined
Worthington Community College
Diploma - undefined
Luverne High School
AAS Degree - Cardiovascular Technology, Concentration in Echocardiography
Southeast Vocational Institute of Echocardiography
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