What are the responsibilities and job description for the Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) position at VA Maryland Health Care System?
The Medical Instrument Technician performs echocardiography studies (heart ultrasound) and records the procedure for interpretation by a cardiologist. This is a diagnostic ultrasound procedure to assess heart function and identify possible abnormalities to assist the cardiologist with determining the most appropriate treatment plan for the patient. Technician is responsible for ensuring all procedure images are properly filed and the final procedure reports are downloaded onto CPRS.
Grade Determinations:
Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-06.
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-05)
GS-5 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
Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations.
GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07). Experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases.
GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08.
Physical Requirements: : Light to moderate carrying up to 44 pounds, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulders, use of fingers and hands, walking, standing, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinating simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted). Mental and emotion stability required. Works closely with others or alone.
Major Duties include but are not limited to:
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
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 #: 512-26934-F, 512-26935-F, 512-26936-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Qualifications:
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.
- 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 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. Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.
Grade Determinations:
Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-06.
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-05)
GS-5 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
Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.
- Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.
- Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.
- 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.
- Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations.
GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.
- Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.
- Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.
- 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.
- Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.
- Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc.
- Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.
- 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.
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07). Experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases.
GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.
- Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc.
- Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.
- 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.
In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow Doppler imaging.
- Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
- Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart and valves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.
- Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography.
- Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08.
Physical Requirements: : Light to moderate carrying up to 44 pounds, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulders, use of fingers and hands, walking, standing, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinating simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted). Mental and emotion stability required. Works closely with others or alone.
Responsibilities:
Total Rewards of a Allied Health ProfessionalMajor Duties include but are not limited to:
- Performs echocardiography studies (heart ultrasound) and records the procedure for interpretation by a cardiologist. This is a diagnostic ultrasound procedure to assess heart function and identify possible abnormalities to assist the cardiologist with determining the most appropriate treatment plan for the patient.
- Responsible for ensuring all procedure images are properly filed and the final procedure reports are downloaded onto CPRS.
- Performs echocardiographs
- Assists with transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) and processing TEE scopes. Echocardiograph procedures include M-mode, two-dimensional color Doppler. Certain areas of the heart may require focused images based on the consultation notes provided by the cardiologist. The technician must have a comprehensive knowledge of cross-sectional cardiac anatomy.
- Required to successfully complete a competency assessment for reprocessing the transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) scopes
- Maintains an adequate supply inventory to ensure there are no delays in procedures due to the lack of required supplies
- Performs patient preparation before initiating the procedure
- Initiates an electronic procedure report for each patient and provides initial information prior to the cardiologist completing the procedure report. Responsible for ensuring all completed reports are properly downloaded into CPRS
- Assesses proper functioning of equipment and contacts biomedical engineering if equipment is not working properly.
- Verifies the accuracy of the Equipment Inventory List for the Echocardiography program.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
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 #: 512-26934-F, 512-26935-F, 512-26936-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Salary : $417