U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87101
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range
This range is provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range $92,403.00/yr - $120,121.00/yr
Summary The incumbent works in the Cardiology Section of Specialty Care Service at the New Mexico Veteran Affairs Health Care System (NMVAHCS). The Medical Instrument Technician-Echocardiography operates diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall. Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Qualifications
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.
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.
English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
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).
Grade Determinations: GS‑9 Specialized Experience: At least 1 year 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.
Experience proving possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of echocardiography services.
Technical KSAs: Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques to provide training and supervision, evaluate and initiate performance‑improvement projects, and write policies, procedures, and protocols pertaining 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 arrange staff development and training.
Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) 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/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑9.
Physical Requirements: The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, and occasional crouching or kneeling; moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the department and facility; considerable manual dexterity and hand‑eye coordination are required; this includes continuous observation of a computer screen.
Duties
Advanced knowledge of complex and non‑standard treatment and exam procedures and techniques.
Use independent judgment in applying knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound – and Doppler principles.
Use problem‑solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure it is comprehensive and accurate.
Record and do preliminary interpretation of the exam and present information and/or possible diagnosis to the interpreting physician.
Perform real‑time 3D–2D–M‑Mode, continuous and pulse‑wave, color, and tissue Doppler exams.
Perform transthoracic examinations and stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals; include 3D imaging in all studies with the exception of studies lacking appropriate image quality.
Notify the Attending physician with preliminary echocardiograph results that may need immediate interpretation and intervention.
Receive patients, explain the procedure and perform the appropriate complete exam.
Set, calibrate and operate the ultrasound equipment.
Perform routine maintenance on all Echo Lab equipment at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.
Share responsibility for coordinating emergency and preventive maintenance of the lab equipment.
Maintain cleanliness of the work environment between studies and at the end of the workday.
Provide training for Cardiology Fellows in performing studies and preliminary interpretation of echo exams.
Teach echo‑Doppler principles and procedures – theory of operations and theory of interpretation of results – to trainee echocardiographic technicians, nursing students, nurses, medical students, residents, and fellows (especially cardiology fellows).
Respond to emergency requests for echo‑Doppler studies within 30 minutes during normal working hours; check the appropriateness of such emergency requests with a cardiology fellow or cardiology attending.
Maintain skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and actively assist in CPR should the need arise.
Attend regional and national professional meetings at the request or approval of the Echocardiography Lab Medical Director and/or Cardiology Nurse Manager to keep current on new technical and practical developments in the echo‑Doppler field.
Evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations in the Echo Lab.
Start intravenous access on patients and perform saline contrast studies and cavity‑enhancing contrast studies with the assistance of the cardiology nurse or fellow upon request/order by a physician.
Assist the physicians involved in performing transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examinations.
Assist with monitoring the patient during a TEE study by monitoring patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and O₂ saturation.
Perform suctioning of the patient if necessary.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday – 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Authorized.
Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized.
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.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Government Administration
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Base pay range $92,403.00/yr - $120,121.00/yr
Summary The incumbent works in the Cardiology Section of Specialty Care Service at the New Mexico Veteran Affairs Health Care System (NMVAHCS). The Medical Instrument Technician-Echocardiography operates diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall. Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Qualifications
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.
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.
English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
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).
Grade Determinations: GS‑9 Specialized Experience: At least 1 year 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.
Experience proving possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of echocardiography services.
Technical KSAs: Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques to provide training and supervision, evaluate and initiate performance‑improvement projects, and write policies, procedures, and protocols pertaining 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 arrange staff development and training.
Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) 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/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑9.
Physical Requirements: The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, and occasional crouching or kneeling; moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the department and facility; considerable manual dexterity and hand‑eye coordination are required; this includes continuous observation of a computer screen.
Duties
Advanced knowledge of complex and non‑standard treatment and exam procedures and techniques.
Use independent judgment in applying knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound – and Doppler principles.
Use problem‑solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure it is comprehensive and accurate.
Record and do preliminary interpretation of the exam and present information and/or possible diagnosis to the interpreting physician.
Perform real‑time 3D–2D–M‑Mode, continuous and pulse‑wave, color, and tissue Doppler exams.
Perform transthoracic examinations and stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals; include 3D imaging in all studies with the exception of studies lacking appropriate image quality.
Notify the Attending physician with preliminary echocardiograph results that may need immediate interpretation and intervention.
Receive patients, explain the procedure and perform the appropriate complete exam.
Set, calibrate and operate the ultrasound equipment.
Perform routine maintenance on all Echo Lab equipment at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.
Share responsibility for coordinating emergency and preventive maintenance of the lab equipment.
Maintain cleanliness of the work environment between studies and at the end of the workday.
Provide training for Cardiology Fellows in performing studies and preliminary interpretation of echo exams.
Teach echo‑Doppler principles and procedures – theory of operations and theory of interpretation of results – to trainee echocardiographic technicians, nursing students, nurses, medical students, residents, and fellows (especially cardiology fellows).
Respond to emergency requests for echo‑Doppler studies within 30 minutes during normal working hours; check the appropriateness of such emergency requests with a cardiology fellow or cardiology attending.
Maintain skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and actively assist in CPR should the need arise.
Attend regional and national professional meetings at the request or approval of the Echocardiography Lab Medical Director and/or Cardiology Nurse Manager to keep current on new technical and practical developments in the echo‑Doppler field.
Evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations in the Echo Lab.
Start intravenous access on patients and perform saline contrast studies and cavity‑enhancing contrast studies with the assistance of the cardiology nurse or fellow upon request/order by a physician.
Assist the physicians involved in performing transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examinations.
Assist with monitoring the patient during a TEE study by monitoring patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and O₂ saturation.
Perform suctioning of the patient if necessary.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday – 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Authorized.
Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized.
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.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Government Administration
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