Imaging Manager

The Imaging Manager is responsible for the overall management, coordination, supervision, quality assurance, and operational performance of the medical imaging and diagnostic imaging services at Washington Healthcare PLC.  The position provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the safe, accurate, timely, efficient, and patient-centered delivery of imaging services. The Imaging Manager oversees imaging personnel, clinical workflows, patient scheduling, imaging equipment, radiation safety, quality assurance, image acquisition and management, reporting processes, supplies, regulatory compliance, and continuous service improvement. The position works closely with radiologists, physicians, nurses, technologists, biomedical engineers, hospital management, and other healthcare professionals to ensure high-quality diagnostic imaging services and optimal patient care.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Imaging Service Management and Clinical Operations:

• Plan, organize, coordinate, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the imaging department.
• Ensure efficient and uninterrupted provision of diagnostic imaging services, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, mammography, fluoroscopy, interventional imaging, and other modalities available within the organization.
• Develop and implement imaging department operational plans, workflows, schedules, service standards, and performance targets.
• Ensure imaging examinations are performed according to approved protocols, professional standards, clinical requirements, manufacturer recommendations, and safety procedures.
• Coordinate patient scheduling, registration, preparation, examination, image acquisition, reporting, and result communication processes.
• Ensure appropriate prioritization of emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and urgent imaging requests.
• Monitor patient flow and identify opportunities to reduce waiting times and improve examination turnaround time.
• Ensure appropriate patient identification, examination verification, clinical indication review, and imaging procedure documentation.
• Coordinate with referring physicians and clinical departments regarding imaging requests, protocols, urgent examinations, and clinical requirements.
• Ensure appropriate preparation of patients for imaging procedures, including contrast-enhanced examinations and other procedures requiring special preparation.
• Establish mechanisms for timely escalation and communication of urgent or critical imaging findings in collaboration with radiologists and relevant clinicians.

• Radiology and Clinical Collaboration:

• Work closely with radiologists and other qualified imaging specialists to ensure effective coordination between image acquisition and interpretation.
• Facilitate communication between imaging technologists, radiologists, physicians, nurses, and other clinical departments.
• Support implementation and monitoring of standardized imaging protocols and examination guidelines.
• Ensure appropriate clinical information accompanies imaging requests to support accurate interpretation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary case discussions and clinical review activities involving imaging services where required.
• Support appropriate use of diagnostic imaging based on clinical indications, patient safety, and resource availability.
• Promote effective utilization of imaging equipment and services while minimizing unnecessary examinations and repeat imaging.

• Imaging Quality Management:

• Lead implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the imaging department Quality Management System (QMS).
• Develop, review, implement, and monitor imaging policies, protocols, SOPs, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Establish and monitor quality indicators for all imaging modalities.
• Monitor image quality, repeat/reject rates, examination accuracy, reporting turnaround time, equipment performance, and patient complaints.
• Coordinate regular quality assurance testing and performance evaluation of imaging equipment.
• Identify, investigate, document, and resolve imaging-related errors, incidents, nonconformities, and service deficiencies.
• Develop and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Conduct or coordinate internal audits, quality assessments, and performance reviews.
• Ensure readiness for regulatory inspections, accreditation assessments, and external quality evaluations.
• Promote a culture of quality, patient safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and professional excellence.

• Radiation Safety and Patient Safety:

• Ensure compliance with radiation protection principles and applicable radiation safety requirements for patients, staff, visitors, and the public.
• Implement and monitor radiation protection policies and procedures for X-ray, CT, fluoroscopy, mammography, and other ionizing-radiation modalities.
• Ensure appropriate use of radiation shielding, personal protective equipment, dosimeters, warning systems, and controlled areas.
• Monitor staff radiation exposure and ensure appropriate review and follow-up of dose-monitoring reports.
• Promote the principle of keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
• Ensure imaging examinations involving radiation are justified and appropriately optimized in collaboration with radiologists and referring clinicians.
• Establish procedures for radiation incidents, equipment-related incidents, contrast reactions, patient falls, and other imaging emergencies.
• Ensure appropriate patient monitoring during examinations involving sedation, contrast media, or other higher-risk procedures, in collaboration with clinical teams.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control requirements during imaging procedures.

• Contrast Media and Medication Safety:

• Ensure safe handling, storage, preparation, administration, and documentation of contrast media and other imaging-related medicines or agents.
• Establish appropriate procedures for screening patients for allergies, contraindications, renal function considerations, pregnancy status, and other relevant risk factors where applicable.
• Ensure emergency equipment and medications required for management of contrast reactions are readily available.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and reporting of adverse reactions and contrast-related incidents.
• Coordinate with physicians, nurses, radiologists, and pharmacy personnel regarding contrast safety and patient management.

• Imaging Equipment and Technology Management:

• Ensure proper operation, calibration, preventive maintenance, performance testing, and safe use of imaging equipment.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of imaging equipment, accessories, software, and related technical resources.
• Coordinate installation, acceptance testing, commissioning, validation, and performance evaluation of new imaging equipment.
• Work closely with biomedical engineering and equipment service providers to ensure timely maintenance and repair.
• Monitor equipment downtime, breakdowns, service response times, and maintenance performance.
• Ensure equipment maintenance and service records are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Coordinate equipment replacement planning based on age, utilization, reliability, clinical requirements, and technological developments.
• Evaluate new imaging technologies and provide recommendations to management regarding equipment acquisition, upgrades, and service expansion.
• Ensure appropriate backup and contingency arrangements are available for critical imaging services.

• PACS, RIS, and Information Management:

• Ensure effective operation and utilization of Radiology Information Systems (RIS), Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and other relevant imaging information systems.
• Ensure accurate patient registration, examination entry, image labeling, image storage, retrieval, and reporting.
• Monitor system availability, data integrity, cybersecurity requirements, and appropriate access controls in collaboration with relevant IT teams.
• Ensure confidentiality and security of patient images, reports, and clinical information.
• Coordinate with IT and vendors to address system failures, connectivity problems, data loss risks, and other technical issues.
• Promote appropriate use of digital imaging, teleradiology, electronic reporting, and other applicable technologies.

• Staff Management and Supervision:

• Recruit, orient, supervise, evaluate, and support imaging department personnel in accordance with organizational policies.
• Develop imaging staff duty rosters, work schedules, leave arrangements, and staffing plans.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and distribution of responsibilities according to workload and service requirements.
• Monitor staff performance, attendance, competency, productivity, professional conduct, and compliance with imaging procedures.
• Conduct or coordinate staff competency assessments and identify training and professional development needs.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, coaching, and guidance to radiographers, radiologic technologists, sonographers, imaging assistants, interns, students, and other imaging personnel as applicable.
• Promote teamwork, effective communication, professional ethics, accountability, and patient-centered care.
• Address staff performance issues, professional conduct concerns, conflicts, and disciplinary matters in collaboration with Human Resources and senior management.
• Ensure relevant imaging professionals maintain valid professional licenses, certifications, and continuing professional development requirements.

• Inventory, Supplies, and Consumables Management:

• Develop and maintain effective inventory management systems for imaging supplies, consumables, contrast media, films where applicable, protective equipment, and other required materials.
• Monitor stock levels, consumption patterns, expiry dates, minimum and maximum stock levels, and reorder requirements.
• Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure continuous availability of essential imaging supplies.
• Monitor contrast media and other high-value consumables to minimize wastage, expiry, and unnecessary costs.
• Ensure appropriate storage conditions for contrast media, consumables, and other imaging materials.
• Participate in procurement planning and provide technical specifications for imaging equipment, accessories, supplies, and consumables.
• Participate in supplier evaluation and monitoring of service-provider performance.

• Administrative and Financial Management:

• Prepare imaging department operational plans, staffing requirements, budgets, and resource needs in collaboration with hospital management.
• Monitor imaging department expenditures and promote efficient and cost-effective utilization of resources.
• Monitor imaging service volume, modality utilization, revenue-related indicators, consumable use, equipment downtime, and other relevant financial and operational measures.
• Prepare regular imaging activity, performance, quality, equipment, staffing, inventory, and financial reports for management.
• Develop and monitor imaging department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Maintain accurate and complete departmental records, registers, equipment logs, maintenance records, quality records, radiation monitoring records, and service reports.
• Participate in management meetings, departmental meetings, quality review meetings, and multidisciplinary clinical meetings as required.

• Regulatory and Compliance Responsibilities:

• Ensure imaging services comply with applicable Ethiopian laws, regulations, professional standards, radiation protection requirements, and organizational policies.
• Ensure compliance with requirements of relevant regulatory and professional authorities.
• Maintain required licenses, permits, registrations, certifications, inspection reports, and regulatory documentation related to imaging services.
• Ensure appropriate authorization and documentation for imaging equipment and radiation-emitting devices.
• Coordinate preparation for regulatory inspections and ensure timely implementation of inspection recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with occupational health, infection prevention, patient safety, radiation safety, and environmental safety requirements.

• Patient Experience and Customer Service:

• Promote patient-centered, respectful, safe, and confidential imaging services.
• Ensure patients receive appropriate information and preparation instructions before imaging examinations.
• Monitor patient waiting times, service experience, privacy, comfort, and satisfaction.
• Establish mechanisms for receiving, documenting, investigating, and resolving imaging-related patient complaints and concerns.
• Ensure appropriate communication with patients regarding examination procedures, preparation, safety precautions, and post-procedure instructions.
• Promote dignity, privacy, cultural sensitivity, and respectful treatment of all patients.

• Education, Training, and Professional Development:

• Develop and implement imaging staff orientation, training, competency assessment, and continuing professional development programs.
• Coordinate training on radiation safety, patient safety, infection prevention, contrast safety, emergency procedures, equipment operation, and imaging protocols.
• Support orientation and competency assessment of newly recruited imaging personnel.
• Facilitate technical training on new imaging equipment, software, modalities, and technologies.
• Support training and supervision of interns, students, and trainees.
• Encourage participation in professional development activities, workshops, conferences, and scientific programs.
• Stay updated on advances in medical imaging, artificial intelligence, digital imaging, radiation safety, quality management, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Strategic Development and Quality Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to expand, modernize, automate, and improve imaging services.
• Develop and implement imaging quality improvement projects based on service data, patient needs, clinical requirements, and identified performance gaps.
• Analyze imaging workload, modality utilization, turnaround time, repeat examinations, equipment downtime, radiation dose indicators, patient complaints, and other performance data.
• Develop strategies to improve access, efficiency, diagnostic quality, patient safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Support implementation of new imaging modalities, digital technologies, AI-assisted imaging solutions, PACS/RIS enhancements, and other appropriate innovations.
• Participate in strategic planning for imaging service expansion, staffing, infrastructure, equipment acquisition, technology upgrades, and resource requirements.
• Promote sustainable and cost-effective imaging services without compromising diagnostic quality or patient safety.

·         Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Radiography, Medical Radiologic Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Diagnostic Radiography, or a related field from a recognized institution.

·         A postgraduate qualification in Medical Imaging, Radiology, Healthcare Management, Public Health, Quality Management, or a related field is highly desirable.

·         Valid professional license by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) or equivalent regulatory body in Ethiopia

·         Minimum of 5 years of demonstrable professional experience in a hospital, diagnostic imaging center, or healthcare imaging environment.

·         Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or managerial experience in medical imaging, radiology, or a related healthcare service

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·         Strong knowledge of diagnostic medical imaging procedures, imaging protocols, patient care, and imaging department operations.

·         Strong knowledge of radiation protection, radiation safety principles, dose optimization, and occupational safety requirements.

·         Demonstrated ability to manage, supervise, motivate, and develop imaging personnel.

·         Strong understanding of quality assurance, quality control, quality improvement, audit processes, and accreditation requirements.

·         Proficiency in the use and management of digital imaging technologies, PACS, RIS, EMR, and related systems.

·         Strong knowledge of imaging equipment operation, preventive maintenance, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting processes.

·         Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills.

·         Strong ability to analyze imaging workload, turnaround times, repeat rates, equipment utilization, quality indicators, and operational performance.

·         Excellent organizational, planning, coordination, and time-management skills.

·         Strong knowledge of patient safety, infection prevention, contrast safety, emergency procedures, and risk management.

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills.