Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

Duties

• Prepare exam room and ultrasound equipment to conduct routine and complex sonography examinations in accordance with infection control, sterilization, and patient safety protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Absorb responsibility for the safety of the patient during the sonographic examination.
• Assure the room is properly stocked and ready each day.
• Assume responsibility for the safety of the patient during the sonographic examination.
• Review patient medical history and supporting clinical information.
• Utilize cross-sectional and structural anatomy and physiology to perform examinations.
• Prepare for examinations by reviewing patient history, prior imaging studies, and exam orders for accuracy in relation to reason for study and patient history.
• Communicate with ordering provider and/or Radiologist for corrections.
• Evaluate any contraindications, insufficient patient preparation, and the patient's inability or unwillingness to tolerate the examination and associated procedures.
• Communicate with the patient in a manner appropriate to the patient's ability to understand, explaining the procedure and answering questions about the procedure.
• Employ proper patient positioning tools, devices, equipment adjustments, and ergonomically correct scanning techniques to ensure patient comfort and safety, and to prevent compromised data acquisition and musculoskeletal injury to the sonographer.
• Utilize protocols to examinations.
• Utilize patient position, scan plane, transducer type, measurements, and Doppler to acquire diagnostic images.
• Label images correctly.
• Compensate for imaging artifacts.
• Perform the diagnostic medical sonography examination ordered by the physician in accordance with professional and facility protocols, which includes but is not limited to abdomen, Doppler examination of intra-abdominal blood vessels, pelvis, superficial structures, soft tissue, scrotum, and head/neck within the department or as a portable.
• Provide diagnostic images by recognizing normal anatomy versus pathology for all examination types, including disease processes.
• Aid the radiologist with procedures such as biopsies, paracentesis, and thoracentesis using sterile technique.
• Determine depth, location, and required needle angle for procedure.
• Confer and work under direction of the radiologist/physician when performing complex examinations such as renal cyst punctures, organ biopsies, and fluid aspiration, as well as intraoperative procedures.
• Apply independent, professional, ethical judgment, and critical thinking to safely perform diagnostic sonography procedures.
• Apply independent judgment during the sonography examination to ensure that appropriate anatomical, pathological, and clinical conditions are accurately captured in the examination images.
• Communicate with fellow sonographers regarding complex exams and give/receive guidance or assistance obtaining difficult images.
• Confer and work closely with the radiologist regarding anatomy, pathology, and patient history/condition.
• Receive guidance from Radiologist on complex studies and/or exams with unusual/unique circumstances.
• Notify Radiologist/Physician of significant findings which may require immediate or emergent medical attention.
• Evaluate the nature of critical and emergency procedures and prioritize cases accordingly.

Requirements

• Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM - Monday to Friday
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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.
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position