Medical Instrument Technologist (Echocardiography)

Qualifications

There are no specific educational requirements at this grade level for this occupation.

English Language Proficiency

Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d).

Licensure or Certification

Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation however - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge - skills - and abilities.

Grandfathering Provision

Applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determinations

GS-8: At 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 filled.

Knowledge and Skills

Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound.

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.

Duties

Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler.

They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination.

They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient - presence of prosthesis or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts.

They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound.

They advise referring physicians of significant abnormalities that would require their immediate attention and visualization while the patient is undergoing examination.

They develop and maintain patient preparation procedures so that patients and wards will understand the proper preparations for ultrasound examinations to minimize delays of examinations.

They explain examinations to be performed to the patient - so that - an understanding of the purpose of the study as well as any requirements of the patients are thoroughly understood.

They are responsible for independently performing standard examinations and scheduling patients for examinations.

They evaluate the nature of critical and emergency procedures - and rearrange patients scheduled to accommodate them.

They maintain adequate supplies so that examinations are not delayed due to lack of necessary equipment and supplies.

They understand and adhere to policies and procedures of Cardiology Services - Medical Service and the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS).

They are responsible for other duties assigned.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm