The incumbent works in the Cardiology Section of Medicine Service at the NMVAHCS. The Medical Instrument Technician-Echocardiography operates diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-09: (a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level GS-08, which identify and record anomalies indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler; incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination; change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility, variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient, presence of prosthesis or foreign objects, and ultrasonic response of different body parts; produced diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound, and must fully meet the Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) at that level. (b) In addition to the experience, the candidate MUST demonstrate the following technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*). KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment. 1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Echocardiography. *2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. *4. Ability to manage and supervise employees. *5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. (c) Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. (d) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/54 Part II Appendix G27 Medical Instrument Technician dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09 Physical Requirements: The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, and occasional crouching or kneeling. Moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the department and facility. Considerable manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are required. This includes continuous observation of a computer screen. ["Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and exam procedures and techniques. Use independent judgment in applying knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound, and Doppler principles. Use problem-solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure that it is comprehensive and accurate. Records and does preliminary interpretation of the exam and presents information and or possible diagnosis to the interpreting physician. Performs real-time 3D, 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave, color, and tissue Doppler exams. Performs transthoracic examinations and stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals. Includes 3D imaging in all studies with the exception of studies lacking appropriate image quality to obtain suitable data. Notifies the Attending physician with preliminary echocardiograph results that may need immediate interpretation and intervention. Receives patients, explains the procedure, and performs the appropriate complete exam. Sets, calibrates, and operates the ultrasound equipment. Performs routine maintenance on all Echo Lab equipment at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Shares responsibility for coordinating emergency and preventive maintenance of the lab equipment. Maintains cleanliness of the work environment between studies and at the end of the workday. Provides training for Cardiology Fellows in performing studies and preliminary interpretation of echo exams. Incumbent Teaches echo-Doppler principles and procedures, theory of operations and theory of interpretation of results to trainee echocardiographic technicians, nursing students, nurses, medical students, residents, and fellows (especially cardiology fellows). Responds to emergency requests for echo-Doppler studies within 30 minutes during normal working hours. Checks the appropriateness of such emergency requests with a cardiology fellow or cardiology attending. Maintains skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and actively assists in CPR should the need arise. Attends regional and national professional meetings at the request or approval of the Echocardiography Lab Medical Director and/or Cardiology Nurse Manager to keep current on new technical and practical developments in the echo-Doppler field. Evaluates new products and equipment and makes recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations in the Echo Lab. Start intravenous access on patients and perform saline contrast studies and cavity enhancing contrast studies with the assistance of the cardiology nurse or fellow upon request/order by a physician. Assist the physicians involved in performing transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examinations. Assist with monitoring the patient during a TEE study by monitoring patient's blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and O2 saturation. Performs suctioning of the patient if necessary. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements and actively participates in maintaining compliance or initiating new protocols to meet TJC requirements. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at all levels within the NMVAHCS. Consistently courteous, respectful, and cooperative attitude and will effectively work within the cardiology team to implement the organization's mission and goals. Ensure that productivity is maintained at the established level for the program for which he/she is responsible. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
