Job Opportunity: Echocardiography Technician
The Echocardiography Technician has the intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function. They will work in the Department of Specialty Care at the Joseph M Cleland Atlanta VAMC. This announcement will be open continuously.
Responsibilities major duties include, but are not limited to:
- Ability to perform 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave Doppler and color flow exam.
- Performs transthoracic examinations.
- Performs stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals.
- Assists physician of results of exam.
- Receives patients, explains procedure and performs exam.
- Assist Cardiology Fellows in performing and interpreting echo exams.
- Independently setting, calibrating and operating of machinery.
- Knowledge of normal echocardiography 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 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.
- Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure.
- Ability to follow policy for sterilization process for TEE probes.
- Ability to complete diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physician on all tours of duty with minimal or no direct supervision; coordinates appointments/workload according to appropriateness of patients/staffing.
- Ability to accept verbal orders and record entries into the patient's medical record for the procedure performed.
- The complying of data, revising reports and completing reports for physician review.
- Ability to manage Echocardiography images in Xcelera and copy to CD.
- Ability to schedule clinic appointments using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA) in accordance with the business rules outlined in the VHA directive 2006-005 Outpatient Scheduling Processes and Procedures.
- Demonstrates knowledge and use of general business rules outlined in the VHA Directive 2006-005 Outpatient Scheduling Processes and Procedures.
- Ability to use established business rules for Enrollment and Registration, Scheduling, Consult Management, Use of the vista Electronic Wait List (EWL), Handling No-Shows, Patient Cancellations, and Clinic Cancellations as applicable to job.
- Ability to uses insurance software, as instructed, to insure the capture of all insurance information during the check-in process.
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Tours vary from 0800-1630
Functional Statement #: 521-FS-409; 521-FS-410; 521-FS-411
Requirements Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a trial period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Qualifications:
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.
GS-06: To meet the requirements for the GS-6 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess 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:
- 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.
- Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.
- 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.
- Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.
GS-07: To meet the requirements for the GS-7 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess at least 1 year of specialized 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 knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and procedures. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with color flow and some Doppler.
- 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.
- Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.
- 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.
GS-08: To meet the requirements for the GS-7 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess at least 1 year of specialized 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 knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and procedures. In addition, the candidate must 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 colorflow 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-09: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. (a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, 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 possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of cardiac catheterization technician services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
- Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of laboratory testing procedures to include maintenance, calibration, and quality control procedures.
- Advanced knowledge of electronics and anesthesia equipment with skill in repairing and maintaining this equipment and repairing complex problems.
- Comprehensive knowledge of central venous and pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheterization procedures including measuring cardiac outputs and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation procedures