Summary

This position will be located in North Battlefield (NB). If selected - incumbent will work at Hampton VA Medical Center until the NBVAOPC opens. The primary purpose of this position is to guide - instruct - maintain and trouble shoot services in the daily operations of the medical center's centralized Radiology Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS) - and VistA Radiology Package.

Qualifications

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
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Certification Requirement: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT) - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - or Mammography (M) duties performed independently - as applicable
• Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent can operate independently and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination
• In modalities that require advanced certification - to support their continued development - technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist
• Education Requirement: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program - evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree - accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE)
• Grade Determinations: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (PACS) - GS-10 Experience
• In addition to minimum qualifications - applicants must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level - GS-09 - that is directly related to the position being filled - that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) Technologist
• The PACS technologist provides support and troubleshoots system application issues and instructs users in the proper operation of digital image processing - storage - and display systems
• The technologist performs VistA radiology - VistA imaging - and PACS support activities and general ADPAC duties including user access control
• The technologist coordinates contingency plans during equipment downtimes and initiates repair requests with appropriate services or vendors
• The technologist provides oversight of hardware relating to PACS display workstations - applications - speech recognition hardware - and other medical imaging hardware
• The technologist provides training to radiologists - technologists - and other clients in the proper and efficient use of imaging hardware and software of the integrated PACS and VistA imaging systems
• The technologist provides instruction and guidance in daily operations of the ancillary systems such as: speech recognition dictation - dose reporting systems - contrast reporting systems - etc
• The incumbent may function as a DRT which may include complex modalities such as CT - MR - mammography - ultrasound - and/or IR
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate ALL of the following KSAs: a
• Ability to provide support and troubleshoot system application and hardware issues and instruct users in the proper operation of digital image processing - storage and display systems
• b
• Ability to perform VistA radiology - VistA imaging - and PACS support activities and general ADPAC duties including user access control
• c
• Ability to initiate repair requests with appropriate services or vendors
• d
• Knowledge of PACS system infrastructure and functionality
• e
• Ability to provide training to all user levels in the efficient use of imaging hardware and software of the integrated PACS system
• f
• Knowledge of specific positioning - technique - and imaging procedures so he/she will be able to perform and reconcile image information correctly and efficiently during technical post processing and evaluation Preferred Experience: At least 2 years dedicated Radiology PACS experience Reference: VA Handbook 5005/119 - Part II - Appendix G25 - dated December 13 - 2019.For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over
• moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• pushing up to 4 hours
• reaching about shoulder
• use of fingers - good dexterity (both hands required)
• prolonged walking - prolonged standing
• repeated bending
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• speed in working
• and emotional stability
• Must have the ability to stand and work while wearing a lead apron for possibly long periods of time.

Duties

• The Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) Assistant technologist provides support and troubleshoots system application issues and instructs users in the proper operation of digital image processing - storage - and display systems
• The technologist performs VistA Radiology - VistA Imaging - and PACS support activities and general ADPAC duties including user access control
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Researches and/or analyzes problems - issues - or program requirements supporting the functions of a digital imaging system
• Determines pertinent issues and collects relevant information from a variety of sources
• Reviews information and applies standard analytical techniques
• Develops recommendations and a plan of action to solve problems
• Decisions and corrective actions are tracked and contribute to the services of Quality Management (QM) program
• Responsible for managing - troubleshooting - and manipulating data flow across the PACS system which primarily includes but is not limited to imaging modalities - diagnostic workstations - Quality Assurance/Quality Control workstations - image archive - network and cabling - voice dictation and HL7 messaging - technologist - student or physician mis-registration - importation of outside images - and interface with any new equipment that impacts Radiology Service
• Serve as a liaison for IT - imaging biomedical employees - business critical systems - vendors - and clinical users to ensure the PACS system is configured to optimize imaging and clinical operations as well as distribution capabilities in all areas of the Hampton VAMC and VISN 6 where these systems are deployed
• Develops methods and programs to evaluate - monitor - and maintain digital imaging and voice recognition systems
• ensures that all responsibilities are fulfilled in an efficient - timely - and satisfactory manner
• Performs diagnostic radiography examinations of head - neck - chest - abdomen - pelvis - spine - and extremities
• These exams are performed with and/or without the use of IV or oral contrast materials
• Perform technical work in support of diagnostic radiography under the direction of a physician - including complex radiographic examinations such as UGI - BE - and Arthrograms
• These examinations involve a number of different processes and methods and require performance of a variety of duties
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - (example shifts may include 7:30- 4 pm - 8:00-4:30 pm) - final Tour of duty to be discussed with management Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: N/A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized