Sr​/Principal Nuclear Medicine Technologist; Fusion

Join to apply for the Sr / Principal Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion) role at UCSF Health.

The position is an 8‑hour work schedule with variable hours and rotating weekend shifts. The technologist is licensed in all scopes of practice as defined by the State of California Radiologic Health branch and performs routine to complex diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures using radiopharmaceuticals to assist in diagnosis and/or treatment in both the inpatient and outpatient environment. The technologist must be able to work safely in an acute care setting and interact with anesthesia and other patient care departments that visit the Nuclear Medicine environment.

The role includes collecting, preparing, and analyzing biologic specimens, performing radiation safety and quality control procedures on all Nuclear Medicine equipment, orienting and training staff, students, residents, and faculty, and participating in performance improvement activities.

• Demonstrate competency and participate in the lead/coordinator role.
• Active participation in an annual performance improvement project or in NM Quality Assurance/Radiation Safety meetings.
• Demonstrate competency and the ability to instruct two or more of the advanced procedures, and perform the procedures without direction.
• Active participation in clinical protocol development, maintenance, improvement, and implementation.
• Active participation in research protocol development, maintenance, and implementation.

• Performs multi‑modality imaging and non‑imaging procedures using patient‑population specific standards per departmental protocol.
• Imaging may include dynamic, static, and gated acquisitions, SPECT, SPECT/CT, PET, PET/CT, and CT.
• Maintain consistent high‑quality diagnostic images and make technical adjustments when indicated.
• Quantitative computer analysis on images is performed according to departmental procedures and guidelines.
• Special positioning, repeat or additional views performed as requested by nuclear physician.
• Review applicable test results and patient history before the exam.
• Familiar with CT contrast media and possible adverse reactions; competency on the power injector for CT contrast.
• Collect and prepare blood, urine, stool specimens and perform in‑vivo or in‑vitro red blood cell and white blood cell labeling.
• Verify correct labeling and transfer of patient data to PACS.
• Operate laboratory auxiliary equipment (pipettes, centrifuges, water baths, balances).
• Maintain competencies in routine clinical PET/CT exams, including at least three of the five specialty PET/CT exams:
  • PET/CT with Multiphase CT
  • Pediatric
  • Cardiac
  • Neuro
  • Research
• Conduct radiopharmacy duties per departmental policy, federal and state regulations. Practice safe handling of radiopharmaceuticals using aseptic technique; elute radionuclide generators with sterile technique and shielding.
• Perform quality control of radiopharmaceuticals to ensure radionuclidic purity, radio chemical purity and integrity before administration.
• Prepare correct radiopharmaceutical and dose; administer via prescribed route.
• Receive, store, and dispose of radioactive materials per regulations; log all relevant information.
• Follow radiation safety practices to minimize exposure. Use ALARA guidelines, syringe and vial shields, lab coats, and personal protective equipment.
• Perform daily surveys of all radiation areas, record findings, perform decontamination as needed.
• Execute quality control procedures to ensure optimal performance of imaging equipment, computers, and auxiliary equipment.
• Daily, weekly, monthly QC of instrumentation including voltage, uniformity, linearity, resolution, center of rotation; document per departmental procedure.
• Calibrate dose calibrators, survey meters, probes, and well counters per procedure.
• Follow startup and shutdown procedures according to manufacturer guidelines. Clean hard drives and archive patient data to PACS, deleting after verification.
• Report abnormal QC results immediately to supervisor.
• Maintain Infection Control and safety standards in imaging and procedure rooms; inspect for hazards and report discrepancies.
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