Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
What you'd do
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.
Major duties
Major Duties and Responsibilities: GS-06 Performs routine, standardized cardiac ultrasound examinations under the supervision of a fully qualified cardiac sonographer. Generates adequate gray scale images to define cardiac borders and learning to perform doppler integration of cardiac valves for determination of flow velocities. Has the intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology as related to cardiovascular function. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. Ability to set up and adjust exam equipment for conditions of examination and the patient. Ability to explain procedures and position the patient. GS-07 Performs a wide range of standard, but complex echocardiographic examinations with responsibility for calibrating all instruments prior to the procedure. Keeps an accurate record of tests, daily logs and maintain the HLD logs. Generates adequate gray scale images to define cardiac borders, ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with color flow and doppler. Has working knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms. Has the intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology as related to cardiovascular function. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle. Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems not limited to valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesis, effusions, and endocardial lesions. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the Veteran and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures. GS-08 Identifies and record anomalies indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant conditions using ultrasound imaging with Doppler as indicated. Incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination. Change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility, variation in physical condition or dimension of the patients, presence of prostheses or foreign objects, and ultrasonic response of different body parts. Produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound in complex and unusual cases. Has the intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology as related to cardiovascular function. Performs complex exams using independent judgment in apply knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound, and Doppler principles Problem-solving skills to ensure exam is comprehensive and accurate. Records ad interprets exam results and provide information/or possible diagnosis to interpreting physician. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30a.m.-4:00p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93870-0, 93871-0, 93872-0
What you need to qualify
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 GS-6 or above 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". For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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 wall. Registration 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 Determination GS-6 (a) Experience. 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. 2. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle. 3. Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained. 4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures. 5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.(c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. GS-7 (a) Experience. 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. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler. 27 2. Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc. 3. Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms. 4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures. (c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. GS-8 (a) Experience. 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. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 1. Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow Doppler imaging. 2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. 3. 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. 4. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography. 5. 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.(c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. 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). Preferred Experience: One year experience at the GS-08 level. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: Duties are performed in areas designated for the Cardiology Hub and Spoke Network. The Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to travel to treatment areas with ease while pushing an Echo Machine. The Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to stand for up to 8-10 hours while providing patient care. The Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to lift 20 pounds of equipment, supplies and records. The Cardiac Echocardiography Technician must be able to manipulate the probes during the procedure, pushing against the patient's chest to obtain the appropriate images. Additionally, the Cardiac Echocardiography Technician will be required to transport Veterans on stretchers, beds, and wheelchairs. There is the potential for extended periods of sitting at computer terminals. The Cardiac Echocardiography Technician is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic techniques to perform duties.
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