Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Approved
What you'd do
The primary purpose of the position of Vascular Technician is to operate diagnostic equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation.
Major duties
The Vascular Technician independently performs the full range of vascular ultrasound procedures in both the peripheral vascular diagnostic laboratory and inpatient wards. The technician carries out highly complex and non-routine studies, adjusts established techniques to ensure accurate diagnostic results, and conducts specialized examinations including intracranial (transcranial) vascular imaging. The role supports the diagnosis and management of vascular disease through comprehensive assessment of blood flow, circulation, pressures, and oxygen saturation. Major Duties - Independently performs the full spectrum of vascular ultrasound examinations, including complex and non-routine studies. - Conducts peripheral, abdominal, cerebrovascular, and transcranial vascular assessments. - Adjusts procedures and techniques as needed to ensure high-quality diagnostic imaging and accurate clinical documentation. - Participates in pre-operative and post-operative vascular evaluations, and performs intraoperative studies when required. - Obtains and documents relevant patient history and physical information associated with vascular disease. - Identifies indications for additional or advanced testing beyond routine procedures. - Provides preliminary interpretations of vascular studies, subject to final review by the supervising physician. - Operates and maintains vascular laboratory equipment including treadmill systems, photoplethysmography devices, Doppler systems, duplex scanners, and monitoring equipment. - Maintains proficiency with laboratory reporting systems; identifies and reports equipment or system malfunctions. - Designs and updates test forms, patient education materials, and procedural documents as needed. - Develops and maintains laboratory protocol and procedure manuals, revising content to reflect current practices and standards. - Educates patients on vascular disease and related surgical procedures; provides patient instruction as appropriate. - Maintains laboratory supplies and ensures operational readiness of all equipment. - Provides training and in-service instruction on vascular procedures to staff, students, residents, nursing personnel, and other groups. - Independently schedules and reschedules patients; maintains permanent filing systems for test results and follow-up documentation. - Meets with vendors and provides recommendations regarding new equipment or products that may enhance laboratory operations. - Ensures all vascular procedures are recorded and documented in accordance with organizational requirements. - Performs troubleshooting and coordinates repairs with Biomedical Engineering when necessary. - Maintains knowledge of regulatory standards and ensures laboratory compliance with JCAHO and other relevant requirements. - Communicates effectively and professionally with staff across various grade levels and disciplines. - Reports urgent or abnormal findings to appropriate providers promptly. - Performs other related duties as assigned. Provide other incidental services deemed appropriate by supervisor. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. 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 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: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54162F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.
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". 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). Vascular technicians or vascular sonographers operate diagnostic equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). Grade Determinations: GS-4 MIT (Trainee): 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 position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. OR, Education: Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology. 2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used. 3. Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress. 4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted. 5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing. GS-5 MIT (Trainee): (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 position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. OR, Education: Successful completion of [4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions. 2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment. 3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities. 4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures. 5. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine. GS-6: 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 position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform routine, standardized vascular ultrasound procedures where the technician is not expected to deviate from established procedures. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to perform standardized, routine vascular ultrasound procedures and/or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels. 2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography. 3. Ability to prepare preliminary reports from the examination including documentation of procedural difficulties in the medical record. (c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. GS-07: 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 demonstrates that the technician has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform complex procedures requiring the ability to select appropriate equipment based on symptomology and the objective of the examination and the ability to adapt procedures and techniques to enhance diagnostic results. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels which require adaptation of procedures or instruments. 2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography. This would also include knowledge of physiological influences on the hemodynamics of blood flow. 3. Knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry to understand drug reactions, action, effects, and method of administration specifically related to vascular ultrasonography. 4. Knowledge of disease entities that impact the vascular system and their influence on the test results to select the appropriate procedures. 5. Ability to obtain a patient history and perform and appropriate physical assessment based on patient presentation and type of exam to include observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation. (c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Qualifications continue in additional information
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