Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Internal Number: 834741700

Summary

The incumbent serves as Medical Instrument Technician in the Cardiology Section of the Medical Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The duties are entirely independent – requiring on the spot – continuous decisions about the quality and interpretability of the images being acquired real time. The veteran patient is being imaged directly by the echo tech – no one else is involved. The images are acquired and then later interpreted by the cardiology attending.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• Grade Determinations GS-10: Experience – In additional to meeting the basic requirements AND the core competencies defined at the GS-9 level – you must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS 9) – which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled – and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• In addition – the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above – the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques
• *Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program
• *Ability to evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations
• *Ability to manage the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (which would include fund controls – contracts – and equipment expenditures) – forecast resource and equipment needs – and administer the allocated budget
• *Knowledge of and ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed
• performance evaluation
• selection of staff
• and recommendation of awards – advancements – and – when appropriate – disciplinary actions
• GS-9 KSA’s: 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 Echocardiography *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• *Ability to manage and supervise employees
• *Ability to provide – or provide for – staff development and training
• Preferred Experience: Have several years experience as an echocardiographer with credentials from the CCI (cardiovascular credentialing international) as an RCS (registered cardiac sonographer)
• RDCS is also acceptable (registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This vacancy is above the full performance level
• Physical Requirements: Have the mental – emotional – and physical ability to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and to pass the requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies

Duties

• Elective – urgent – and STAT studies throughout the hospital including but not limited to general inpatient – ICU – emergency department – and catheterization lab settings
• Transthoracic echocardiograms are obtained entirely by the technician using all modalities such as M mode – 2D – 3D – color Doppler – spectral Doppler – contrast – strain and any other approved technique that emerges over time
• Transesophageal echocardiograms require the involvement of the physicians
• image acquisition is often assisted by the MIT
• Routinely communicates STAT findings to clinicians as needed including – but not limited to: Tamponade – large/moderate effusions – severe valve disorders – critical valve lesions such as endocarditis – new findings of severely reduced ventricular function and so forth
• Obtains studies and makes specific technical measurement in a timely fashion so that the interpreting MD has the study available for analysis and reporting
• Assists with completion of reports as needed to assure that they are present in all hospital EMRs and are thus available for widespread use in clinical care
• Obtain medical information from the patient – such as related to the symptoms for which the study is being obtained
• Must interact with many people – veteran patients and their family members or friends accompanying them – clinicians including medical students – house officers – cardiology trainees and attending physicians – RNs – RNPs – DNPs – PAs and other technicians
• GS 10 SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: The incumbent is expected to independently carry out the most complex laboratory procedures such as real-time 3D cardiac ultrasounds utilizing on-line and off line computer enhancement and reconstruction technology and 3D reconstruction using off- line computers for rendering real-time 3D images to specified parameters as well as teaching the correct methodology of echocardiography procedures – theory of operations – and theory of interpretation of results to other technicians and trainees
• Work Schedule: 8:00am – 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 688-90996466 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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