Direct Jobs
Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Direct Jobs, Martinsburg, West Virginia, us, 25402
Summary
This position requires a highly skilled Sonographer with a comprehensive-specialized education in the medical and technical aspects of diagnostic cardiac sonography. This position is located with the Specialty Service line working under the Chief of Medicine - Cardiologist and Cardiopulmonary coordinator at the Martinsburg - WV - VAMC.
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.
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
(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.) Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
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-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Full Performance Level: (a) Experience: At least one (1) year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge - skills - and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases
GS-7 Experience includes: Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow 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 (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
(c) Certification: No certification or registration is required
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable for applicants at this level
(d) Assignment: This represents the full performance level
Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient - presence of prosthesis or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts
They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-Mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound
Preferred Experience: Certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) with 1-3 years as a cardiac sonographer is preferred
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-8. Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of the position (i.e standing - bending - stooping - sitting - pulling - pushing - etc.) Requires standing - bending stooping - sitting - pulling and pushing patients must be able to perform gross and fine coordinated hand movements.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to
Independently perform diagnostic tests - provide patient education - and act as a liaison and information source for the patient and family - nursing staff and medical staff
Responsible for the delivery of professional services and the provision of high-quality patient care in the Echo Lab
Review performance for quality and accuracy
Performs cardiac ultrasound (echocardiograms) autonomously to acquire the maximum diagnostic image quality
All echocardiograms include M-mode - two-dimensional and doppler examinations Performs portable ultrasound procedures on the patients who cannot be transported to the department
Maintains logs and controls
Manipulates high technology ultrasound equipment in the production of diagnostic images Receives patients and explains the procedure
Positions the patient in sitting - recumbent - prone or oblique position in the echocardiographic laboratory or by the bedside
Positions the transducer to the thorax - or body part under examination - using contact real time imaging techniques
Must have basic understanding of computer operations - including the operation of alphanumeric keyboard input - in order to select various programs to best demonstrate cardiac structures or body parts - in different positions - and to prepare equipment for operation - and to change imaging modalities as conditions warrant on different ultrasound systems
Assesses and interprets cardiac structures and blood flow during doppler studies
Operates various items of photographic equipment to record oscilloscope images
Operates videotape recorder and/or digital recorder to maintain a record for physician interpretation and for future reference
Operates continuous wave doppler with color flow mapping
Trains other staff including physicians and medical students - relevant to ultrasound such as appearance and functions of various systems and the physical abnormalities
Performs basic maintenance of ultrasound equipment on a regular basis and notifies supervisor of any equipment problems
Maintains adequate stock of equipment
Consults with cardiologist and/or physician regarding interpretation of echo testing results
Schedules and prioritizes patients for echocardiograms studies
Screens echo consults to determine if patient requires urgent evaluation
Maintains patient log upon completion of exam
Labels videotape of completed exam
Provides a preliminary report of the echocardiogram prior to review by cardiologist and/or physician
Files completed reports in appropriate locations and maintains a copy of all exams within the Cardiopulmonary Department
Receives information and keep abreast of new developments in the field and makes recommendations as to how improvements might be made to operate the section
Other tasks/duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Full time: 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 #: 25270-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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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.
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
(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.) Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
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-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Full Performance Level: (a) Experience: At least one (1) year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge - skills - and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases
GS-7 Experience includes: Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow 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 (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
(c) Certification: No certification or registration is required
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable for applicants at this level
(d) Assignment: This represents the full performance level
Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient - presence of prosthesis or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts
They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-Mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound
Preferred Experience: Certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) with 1-3 years as a cardiac sonographer is preferred
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-8. Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of the position (i.e standing - bending - stooping - sitting - pulling - pushing - etc.) Requires standing - bending stooping - sitting - pulling and pushing patients must be able to perform gross and fine coordinated hand movements.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to
Independently perform diagnostic tests - provide patient education - and act as a liaison and information source for the patient and family - nursing staff and medical staff
Responsible for the delivery of professional services and the provision of high-quality patient care in the Echo Lab
Review performance for quality and accuracy
Performs cardiac ultrasound (echocardiograms) autonomously to acquire the maximum diagnostic image quality
All echocardiograms include M-mode - two-dimensional and doppler examinations Performs portable ultrasound procedures on the patients who cannot be transported to the department
Maintains logs and controls
Manipulates high technology ultrasound equipment in the production of diagnostic images Receives patients and explains the procedure
Positions the patient in sitting - recumbent - prone or oblique position in the echocardiographic laboratory or by the bedside
Positions the transducer to the thorax - or body part under examination - using contact real time imaging techniques
Must have basic understanding of computer operations - including the operation of alphanumeric keyboard input - in order to select various programs to best demonstrate cardiac structures or body parts - in different positions - and to prepare equipment for operation - and to change imaging modalities as conditions warrant on different ultrasound systems
Assesses and interprets cardiac structures and blood flow during doppler studies
Operates various items of photographic equipment to record oscilloscope images
Operates videotape recorder and/or digital recorder to maintain a record for physician interpretation and for future reference
Operates continuous wave doppler with color flow mapping
Trains other staff including physicians and medical students - relevant to ultrasound such as appearance and functions of various systems and the physical abnormalities
Performs basic maintenance of ultrasound equipment on a regular basis and notifies supervisor of any equipment problems
Maintains adequate stock of equipment
Consults with cardiologist and/or physician regarding interpretation of echo testing results
Schedules and prioritizes patients for echocardiograms studies
Screens echo consults to determine if patient requires urgent evaluation
Maintains patient log upon completion of exam
Labels videotape of completed exam
Provides a preliminary report of the echocardiogram prior to review by cardiologist and/or physician
Files completed reports in appropriate locations and maintains a copy of all exams within the Cardiopulmonary Department
Receives information and keep abreast of new developments in the field and makes recommendations as to how improvements might be made to operate the section
Other tasks/duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Full time: 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 #: 25270-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
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