Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) functions as a member of the Vascular multidisciplinary team. The MIT delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies.

Qualifications

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge - Skill - and Ability (KSA) on a separate document.

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
• No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular): 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 - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and/or guidance to other technicians
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): GS-8 level KSA's: You must demonstrate the core competencies for the GS-8 full performance level which includes: Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels - anatomical planes and tissue structures - physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system - signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease - and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms - pseudoaneurysms - thromboses - stenoses - occlusions - AV fistulae - and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels
• demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply
• accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses
• and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis - plethysmographic tracings - velocity changes - and pressure gradients characteristic of normal - obstructed - or occluded vessels or grafts
• Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations
• Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency - Doppler angle - focal zones - gain - depth - color map - wall filter - and sample volume
• Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease
• GS-9 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): 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 vascular ultrasonography
• *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• Certification: No certification is required - however - registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Vascular technician or vascular sonographer assignments at this level perform standardized - routine vascular ultrasound procedures and/or examinations of upper and lower extremity - abdominal - and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels (also those which require adaptation of procedures or instruments) - intracranial vascular examinations - and Doppler exams
• 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
• The MIT performs an appropriate physical assessment and obtains patient history related to vascular procedure
• Vascular technicians ensure proper performance of equipment - equipment set up - patient positioning appropriate for exam (while ensuring comfort)
• The MIT reprocesses reusable medical equipment (RME) per policy
• The MIT maintains a high level of knowledge regarding anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography and hemodynamic blood flow
• Maintains knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry to understand potential effects related to vascular sonography and maintains knowledge of disease entities that impact the vascular system
• The MIT prepares preliminary reports from the examination including documentation of procedural difficulties in the medical record - signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease - any abnormalities - and objective data to document progression or regression of disease
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized