Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Summary

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Southeast Network (VISN 7) - VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS) in Augusta - Georgia located in the Nursing Department Hospital Service line.

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
• 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
• For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments - specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated
• 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: GS-10 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-9) - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques
• *2
• Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program
• *3
• Ability to evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations
• 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
• 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: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
  
  

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
• The incumbent is assigned by the Department of Nursing to the Cardiology Section of the Specialty Care Service Line operating medical complex diagnostic Equipment
• Performs complex procedures independently carrying out the most complex laboratory procedures such as real time 3D cardiac ultrasounds
• Communicates normal echocardiography findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases
• Performs complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart using sector scanning techniques
• Perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive)
• Adapt transducer positioning - instrument controls - and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied
• Utilize lead aprons - lead gloves and shield when exposed to radiation in the interventional lab
• Adhere to Radiation Safety guidelines
• Technologist is responsible for capturing workload - by interpreting preliminary readings and entering physicians interpretation with the correct CPT code
• Interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure/testing
• Reuseable Medical Equipment subject matter expert for Transesophageal Echocardiography probes
• Complete diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physicians Determine and recommend appropriate contrast enhancing agent
• Collaborate with supervisor for ongoing staff development and training related to Echocardiography to include Staff orientation
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 #: 59174F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.