Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

The Birmingham VA, Diagnostic Imaging Service is seeking a full-time Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) for the VA Medical Center in Birmingham Alabama.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025.

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. 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 this grade level 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".

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-8

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade (GS-7) 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 overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum.
  • Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal-systemic shunts, etc.
  • Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled.
  • Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations.

Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appending G27The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Frequently required to stand, walk, bend and reach. Must be able to lift and/or move over 50 pounds. May be required to wear gloves, mask, gown and eye shields during specific procedures. They must have full manual dexterity and keyboarding skills. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of the Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) Ultrasound includes, but are not limited to the following:

• The Incumbent must have the ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations of multiple areas of the body including but not limited to the abdominal, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast and scrotum. In addition, must have the ability to perform vascular studies such as renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal systemic shunts, hemodialysis access both pre-surgery and post-surgery. Incumbent will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level for the program for which he/she is responsible.
• Incumbent will be on call and must be available to perform emergency procedures that require use of ultrasound examinations. Technologist(s) are to respond to a page and/or phone call within 15 minute and should arrive on station within one hour of the page or phone call. Additionally they are required to update the AOD on any unexpected delays they may encounter.
• The Ultrasound Technologist (Sonographer) works basically on his/her own, calling the radiologist in to see areas of interest or of questionable abnormality. Therefore, the technologist must have a good knowledge of medical terminology, laboratory test and value, and an excellent knowledge of formal and abnormal pathology.
• Must be able to know if a request came for an abdomen ultrasound with a history of hemochromatosis or elevated creatine, the technologist must know what this is and which organs would be affected, in order to do the proper scan.
• Must be able to know if an abnormality was found while scanning, the technologist needs to know what or if any other areas need to be scanned that would cause this abnormality.
• Must be able to know sterile technique and be familiar with, as he/she is sometimes called in to surgery to help the surgeon localize an area of excision, and to guide the radiologist or nephrologist into an area for a biopsy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 3:00pm - 11:30pm, Monday - Friday, with rotating holiday. This subject to change based on the operational needs of the agency.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
.Functional Statement #: FS0249
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

NOTIFICATIONS:

• This position is a Bargaining Unit position.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for current permanent Federal agency employees.

Salary : $66,604