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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) - RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE Near Dallas, TX

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• 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. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• 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. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under 'Titles and Certification/Registrations'. For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grade Determinations: Applicant must meet the Basic requirement and Specialized Experience requirements for the position:

Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound), GS-0649-09:
Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-0649-08, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be specialized experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of diagnostic ultrasonography services.

In addition, the candidate must Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level.

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 diagnostic ultrasonography.
2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.

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.

Special Assignments. Non-supervisory diagnostic ultrasound technicians may have assignments that because of their nature substantially exceed the full performance level. The Professional Standards Board will review proposed non-supervisory special assignments for the GS-9 level and make a determination regarding their appropriateness. These assignments are expected to be relatively few in number and must represent substantial additional responsibility over the full performance level.

Preferred Experience:

• Competent in the production, use, recognition, and analysis of ultrasound images and patterns used for patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Expert source of all ultrasound imaging, and the interpreting radiologist relies heavily on the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the sonographers in providing a final interpretation
• Demonstrates work practice appropriate for the position. Demonstrate and verbalize proper procedures.
• Infection Control. Understands, demonstrates appropriate hygiene methods and infection control.
• Understand the functioning and interrelationship of the various organs; to use the methods and techniques which will identify organs appearing on the digital display monitor, or on film, and the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the image and/or scan for diagnostic use and to emphasize the aspects of interest to the physician
• Detail-Oriented with good hand-eye coordination

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, Appendix C - Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Pulling hand over hand (1 hour); Pushing (2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; Hearing (aid permitted).

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 19, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 5, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Applicant Expiration: Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period.

A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.

The incumbent performs in a hospital setting a variety of ultrasound examinations ranging from the routine to the highly specialized. Through experience gained from past work experience which includes applicable knowledge of anatomy and computerized technical factors. Reviews patients' prior images to obtain additional information in order to localize organs and vessels examined. Utilizes the patient's chart for pertinent laboratory reports, nursing notes, etc. and interrogates the patient for symptoms and any other information that will assist in examining the patient for diagnostic purposes. Receives patients, explains methods of procedure, positions patient, selects and sets technical and computer factors, selects proper transducer, sets up and adjusts accessory equipment, i.e., optical disk drive, physiological monitors, and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the examination, selects the appropriate protocol and parameters necessary for the required procedure and make exposures to record diagnostic images.

Independently makes standard examinations. Advises the radiologists of examinations' progress and provides them a preliminary diagnostic evaluation. Notifies radiologist of significant scans requiring their immediate attention and visualization while patients are undergoing examinations. Confers with radiologist to establish requirements for nonstandard examinations. Independently determines technical factors, positioning, transducer selection, gain adjustment, selection of gray scale or color, etc. Knows and understands the principles of ultrasonography and the highly specialized equipment well enough to essentially determine acceptability or rejection of each scan.

The spectrum of examinations performed include abdomen for tumors, cysts, abscesses, hematoma, inflammatory lesions such as pancreatitis, and sizes of organs and their location; renal transplant follow-ups, evaluations of abdominal aorta for aneurysm and marks anatomy for percutaneous aspiration and assists radiologist during invasion procedures. Incumbent has a thorough knowledge of both normal and abnormal human anatomy. Required to recognize the significance of all structures that are visualized on the monitor at all times. Informs the radiologist concerning real-time findings and consults with the radiologist on other findings and observation. Checks results with the radiologist before discharging patient.

On a regular basis, instructs radiologists in the technical aspects of sonography.

Independently coordinates scheduling of patients for US examinations in a manner to allow for optimal flexibility of scheduling for emergency patients while maintaining high volume through-put. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges patient priorities to accommodate them. Screens requests for proper clinical history and pertinent data. Modifies the examination to match the written clinical history when appropriate. Maintains records of patients treated, examinations performed, types of scans taken, etc.

The incumbent maintains visual and vocal contact with the patient during the scan recognizes patient distress and intervenes or contacts physician as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:30pm, rotating on call and holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary