Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Summary The National CARDIO-VET Network Cardiac Sonographers will perform routine or complex echocardiographic examinations along with keeping accurate records of tests and daily logs. The cardiac sonographer will be part of the National CARDIO-VET Network - a program that extends high quality cardiovascular care to rural Veterans. The sonographer will work in person at the associated spoke sites. This position may require travel to multiple CBOC sites of the associated spoke VA Medical Center site. 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 PolicyEducationThere are no specific educational requirements for this occupationEducation may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levelsSee the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutionsLicensure or CertificationLicensure or Certification is not required for this occupationhowever - it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge - skills - and abilitiesFor 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""For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirableTraining which does not result in official certification does not meet this definitionGrandfathering ProvisionThe following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standardsSome of these provisions may not apply to this occupationPlease carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupationEnglish Language ProficiencyMedical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this partMay 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)Echocardiography Technicians operate diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wallRegistration is offered 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)(See Appendix D) Grade Determinations: GS-9. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level - positions at this grade may be lead - supervisory - or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments.ExperienceAt least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filledIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 EchocardiographyKnowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirementsAbility to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levelsAbility to manage and supervise employeesAbility to provide - or provide for - staff development and trainingPreferred Experience: Professional certification as a 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) strongly preferred.Experience administering ultrasound/echo enhancing agents strongly preferredReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09Physical Requirements: ???????Duties are performed in areas designated for the Cardiology Hub and Spoke NetworkThe Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to travel to treatment areas with ease while pushing an Echo MachineThe Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to stand for up to 8-10 hours while providing patient careThe Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to lift 20 pounds of equipment - supplies and recordsThe Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to manipulate the probes during the procedure - pushing against the patient's chest to obtain the appropriate imagesAdditionally - the Cardiac Echocardiography Technician will be required to transport Veterans on stretchers - beds - and wheelchairsThere is the potential for extended periods of sitting at computer terminalsThe Cardiac Echocardiography Technician is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic techniques to perform duties. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent performs high level cardiovascular testing with cardiology physicians and performs transthoracic echocardiogramsWith specialized knowledge of cardiac anatomy - physiology and biology - ultrasound physics - and cardiac sonographyThe incumbent is fluent in the use and operation of the diagnostic equipment to provide adequate imaging of 2D - 3D - Doppler - M-mode imaging of the heart and associated structuresThe echocardiographer should also be able to communicate effectively and professionally with patients and employees to help perform procedures in the care of cardiac patientsSpecific knowledge in proper and approved cleaning of the equipment is necessaryThe incumbent will be responsible for inventory and coordination of ordering supplies necessary for conducting echocardiogramsThe echocardiographer works with biomedical engineering to maintain all cardiac ultrasound equipmentThe incumbent ensures timely transfer of diagnostic images to the reporting server for inpatient and outpatient examsThe incumbent will use word processing software and data entry software (Excel) to execute several functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files - activating printers - formatting reports - letters - memoranda - and copying imaging data for in-house or out of house providers according to VAMC regulationsThe echocardiographer should also have the ability to use the Veterans health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) to access information in the medical center computer system75% travel is requiredWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30a.m.-4:00p.mCompressed/Flexible: Available 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 positionFunctional Statement #: FS-91853-A