Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

About the role

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) Diagnostic Ultrasound position is located within Diagnostic Imaging service at the Martinsburg West Virginia VA Medical Center. The MIT coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic or on the inpatient unit.

Responsibilities

• Controls technical factors on ultrasound unit, which will affect time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, reflection, scattering, refraction, and diffraction.
• Selects between non-focused, fixed-focus, linear phased array, and annual phased array.
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam.
• Receives and identifies patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables, positions the patient and performs examination requested.
• Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate them.
• Performs ultrasonography studies, records as well as prepares the processed media for interpretation by Staff Radiologist.
• Maintain records of patients in the Vista radiology package.
• Schedules and prepares patient for exams and explains procedures to patient while performing the studies.
• Obtains pertinent diagnostic examinations for the physician, which may be necessary for correlation between the ultrasound scan and the clinical history.
• Performs diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of body, including, but not limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum.
• Routinely performs vascular studies such as carotid duplex, ABI, arterial duplex, venous duplex, renal artery duplex and visceral vascular exams of the abdomen. Regularly performs preoperative upper and lower extremity vein mappings, as well as chronic venous insufficiency studies.
• Assists radiologist with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled.
• Assists in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations. This requires performance and knowledge of sterile technique and strict enforcement.
• Recognizes a diagnostic scan and consults with the Staff Radiologist to determine the proper diagnosis.
• Performs other tasks/duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• One year of experience of the assignments and knowledge, skills and abilities, equivalent to the GS-08 grade level. (GS-08 assignments and knowledge, skills and abilities listed below)
• Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols that pertain to diagnostic ultrasonography.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

Skills

• Knowledge of more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols that pertain to diagnostic ultrasonography.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

Benefits

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).

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

Intermittent, Variable shifts as to the needs of the service.