This position is located within Cardiology Service Line, Echocardiography Section. The employee will work in the Echocardiology Lab which provides service to a variety of departments throughout the hospital and servicing Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Echocardiography Technicians at this level perform patient assessments. Acquire and analyze data obtained using ultrasound and related diagnostic technologies and provide a summary of findings to the physician.

Duties

The employee will work in the Echocardiology Lab which provides service to a variety of departments throughout the hospital and servicing Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) Echocardiography technologist at this level perform patient assessments. Acquire and analyze data obtained using ultrasound and related diagnostic technologies. Provide a summary of findings to the physician to aid in patient diagnosis and management. Use independent judgment and systematic problem-solving methods to produce high quality diagnostic information and optimize patient care. The operator must be able to properly display cardiac and/or vascular structures and blood flow in each of the imaging views. Echocardiography technologist must demonstrate proficiency in the performance of two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler (pulsed wave, continuous wave, and color flow) echocardiographic diagnostic procedures. Visualization of all cardiac chambers, valves, and vessels, with appropriate structural and blood flow measurements, should be provided using a standardized protocol. In addition, the cardiac sonographer must have several important communications and basic safety-related skills. The duties include but are not limited to: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and use proper ultrasound instrument operation in obtaining diagnostic images. Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed, and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and color flow Doppler imaging. Knowledge of basic medical terminology, pharmacology and anatomy related to specialized procedures involving the cardiovascular system. The incumbent must have knowledge of a variety of related disorders and disease, their effects on organs and methods of treatment. The employee will possess the knowledge of cardiovascular response to incremental increased exercise, cardiac arrhythmias induced by exercise, and indications for the cessation of exercise testing due to life-threatening symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias, or blood pressure changes. The technologist must possess the ability to perform basic life support. (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) BLS required in this position. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. Ability to identify abnormal echocardiographic and Doppler velocities that are indicative of cardiovascular pathophysiology and accurately document cardiac ultrasound examinations. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, (invasive) Bubble studies and contrast, stress, transesophageal echocardiography, and some vascular examinations. 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. The employee will be responsible for setting up, performing, and analyzing data of pharmacological stress, exercise stress, contrast echocardiograms and transesophageal echo studies. The employee will keep abreast of technical developments and evolving applications in the field of echocardiography Performs accurate measurements and calculations according to laboratory protocol, provides written or an oral summary of preliminary findings to the interpreting Physician. The employee will prepare a preliminary diagnostic report for each echocardiogram done for review by the cardiologist using the Cardiology Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The employee will utilize computer skills to document patient notes and other service work including necessary reports. Must exhibit excellent interpersonal skills, good written and verbal communication, attention to detail, also effective time management skills. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:30AM - 4:00PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52176 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. 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. 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, 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. 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: 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. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): 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. 5. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15; Part II; Appendix G27 dated 3/17/06. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-8. Physical Requirements: There is a combination of potentially extended periods of standing, walking, and lifting of items. The other physical demands that coincide with the duties of an echo technologist, such as performing portable examination in other areas of the hospital or travel to CBOC's. Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4-8 hours); Standing (4-8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hour); Must possess emotional and mental stability.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Donna Mackey-Pollard
• Phone: 334-590-9523
• Email: [email protected]