This Medical Instrument Technician Echocardiography position is located at the West Roxbury Campus of VA Boston Healthcare System in the Specialty Care Service. This position is full time at 40 hours per week. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred on a weekly basis after 7/18/2024 until position is filled. This announcement may close at any time once the position is filled. Applicants must be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement. 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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiology) GS-9 Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the one year of experience, applicants must also demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and color flow Doppler imaging. 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. GS-9 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In 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 Echocardiography. And the potential to acquire the following KSAs: 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: 5 years of experience in adult Echocardiography, ability to travel to satellite location, knowledge of stress treadmill and dobutamine stress echo, knowledge of strain imaging, and knowledge of 3D imaging. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), ARDMS or CCI certification/registry is desirable. Certification: No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have one or more of the following certifications/Registrations: Registration by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDS). Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Lift Support (ACLS) certifications. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART II APPENDIX G27 (appendix D). The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to travel to treatment areas with ease while pushing an Echo Machine. The incumbent must be able to stand for up to 8-10 hours while providing patient care. The incumbent must be able to lift up to 20 pounds of equipment, supplies and records. The incumbent must be able to manipulate the probes during the procedure, pushing against the patient's chest to obtain the appropriate images. Additionally, the incumbent will be required to transport patients on stretchers, beds and wheelchairs. There is the potential for extended periods of sitting at computer terminals. The incumbent is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic techniques to perform duties. ["For highly qualified applicants, a Recruitment Incentive of $5,000 may be authorized as a sign on bonus. Medical Instrument Technicians for Echocardiography at the GS-9 is above full performance level. The incumbent responsible for performing echocardiography exams which range form the routine to the complex in all echocardiography modalities. Responsibilities also include varied administrative duties, staff development and supervisory functions which may require problem solving, communication and writing skills, as well as knowledge of regulatory and industry compliance and accreditation issues. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Perform real time 3-dimensional cardiac ultrasound using on-line and off- line computer enhancement and reconstruction technology, 3-dimensional Q-Lab analysis, and 3D cropping tools. Provide training and supervision to students in cutting-edge modalities. Perform basic echocardiograms as well as complex procedures such s stress exercise and dobutamine echocardiograms, saline contrast studies, contrast echocardiography, research protocols, valve cases and assist with transesophageal echocardiograms as needed. Adhere to all lab protocols and adjust the scanning procedures to the specific pathology as it presents itself. Set up and maintain the echocardiography laboratory's transesophageal equipment. Assist the supervisor in writing lab and scanning procedures, protocols and policies for Quality Assurance and IAC accreditation. Assist with special projects and datable operations. Assist in managing and maintaining IAC accreditation for the Echo Lab. Compile QA data, and on an ongoing basis present finding to Medical and Technical Directors. Act as the lab liaison between IAC and the echo lab to ensure all required documents are submitted. Assist in creating ideas to better manage workflow and organization of the laboratory via project management plans. Liaison to triage equipment problems and communication with other departments to correct malfunctions. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F03633 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized (Recruitment Incentive) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. This position is in the Excepted Service. The incumbent may be required to travel to other Boston VA campuses and CBOC's."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
