The incumbent works in the Cardiology section of the Department of Medicine, Specialty Care Directorate, in the Federal Health Care Center operating Medical Diagnostic Equipment.

Duties

Set up, calibrate, and operate a variety of echocardiographic equipment which includes a realtime echocardiographic scanner with facilities for M-mode, 2D, color flow, spectral doppler and TEE. Additionally, standard stand alone systems, such as: (a) review station with SVHS VCR and monitor, (b) digital review station with a computer to do digital analysis and storage, and (c) system for uploading, downloading, and printing echo reports. Receive, interpret, and schedule requests from physicians and support staff for echos using medical judgement to prioritize echo requests Perform routine and emergency echos either in the echo lab or by the bedside in MICU or SICU. Perform routine and emergency TEE procedures either in the ambulatory procedure center, cardiac cath lab, or by the bedside in MICU, SICU or OR. Relate to the patients to secure their confidence and communicate with the professional staff on a professional level. The technician must work alone with patients, including very sick patients. Be sufficiently familiar with cardiac related symptoms, cardiac auscultation results, medical terminology, and other pertinent diagnostic tools in order to assess possible areas of cardiac abnormality or rule out or validate a suspected diagnosis. Analyze echo tomograms to obtain a diagnostic quality echo by adjusting the position of the patient's body, adjusting respirator state, and probe position as well as machine controls to obtain at least one diagnostic quality heart cycle in a given projection. Echo exams are operator (rather than equipment) orientated. Initially interpret sonographic tracings while they are being generated. Examinations require the constant interaction between the patient, technician, and the equipment. The equipment controls must be continually adjusted to alter amplitude. The position of the probe on the patient's body must be constantly varied depending on the technician's instantaneous recognition of the image being produced. Specific diagnostic patterns must be recognized during the test to be able to perform a proper and complete examination. Judgement and decision-making are inherent in this technology in the false positive and false negative tracings can be obtained if the technician is not thoroughly familiar with organ pathology and technique. Recognize serious problems diagnosed from echo tracings. Exercise professional judgement in order to determine when an emergency situation exists requiring immediate medical intervention. Start IV for contrast Echo studies. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position .Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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 certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations". 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Grade Determinations: GS-6 level: At least one (1) year of experience as a Medical Instrument Technician - (Echocardiography) comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of a Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography). The following KSAs must be demonstrated: 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 procedures. GS-7 level: At least one full year of experience as a Medical Instrument Technician - (Echocardiography) comparable to the next lower level (GS-6) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations. The following KSAs must be demonstrated: 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. GS-8 Level: Must have at least 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 positions 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. In addition, must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. 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. 2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. 3. 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. 4. 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. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. References: VA Handbook 5005/54 Part II Appendix G27 Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: The work requiresassisting patients to achieve proper positioning which may require reaching, stretching, or working in a strained position. Above average dexterity is required to constantly vary the equipment controls and the probe on the patient's body. Pushing the heavy echocardiographic equipment is required when performing bedside echos.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Lisa Ahearn
• Phone: (928) 445-4860 X6301
• Email: [email protected]