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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)-Relocation Incentive Near Garland, 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:

GS-4 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR,

Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used.
3. Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.
4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.
5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

Assignments. At this level assignments are trainee in nature. The medical instrument technician trainee is performing limited routine assignments of a developmental nature under close supervision.

GS-5 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR,

Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.
2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.
3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.
4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.
5. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.

Assignment. Medical Instrument Technicians (Trainee) at this level operate and monitor commonly used equipment performing routine procedures under normal supervision. The technician functions somewhat independently in carrying out these standardized procedures of limited complexity. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help. Some assignments at this level also include developmental duties involving more complex procedures designed to prepare the technician for promotion to higher grades in a functional area. Such duties would be performed under closer supervision.

GS-6 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy in order to receive and interpret physician requests for routine, standardized ultrasonography procedures.
2. Knowledge of tissue harmonics and soundwave propagation within the body to adjust TGC (Time Gain Compensation) for optimal image quality.
3. Knowledge of the physics of velocity, frequency of soundwaves, and their physical properties.
4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures.
5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

Assignment. At this level, medical instrument technicians (diagnostic ultrasound) perform examinations which are routine and standardized in nature. They position the patient as needed for the best test results, set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the condition of the examination and patient, move and adjust depths and types of scan in accordance with procedures, perform operator preventive maintenance and care of equipment, and assist higher graded technicians in performing more complicated examinations.

GS-7 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized diagnostic ultrasonography examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures.
2. Knowledge of zoom, expansion, prospectus, color Doppler, and pulsed echo Doppler.
3. Knowledge of the digital transmission of images.
4. Ability to alter standard, but complex procedures and protocols to meet patient needs and physical limitations.

Qualification standards continue in the Education section of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until October 4, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 20, 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 Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.

Duties include but are not limited to:

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, 8:00am-4:30pm, rotating on-schedule/holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation Incentive: May be authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary