This Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) is located in the Surgical Service at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL. The MIT Vascular performs diagnostic examinations or medical treatment procedures as part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Duties

The Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) operates diagnostic equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such a vascular blood flow, blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. This position includes routine and stat non-invasive vascular testing on patients who are seen as inpatients and outpatients. GS-6 Level - Assignments at this grade level: Performance of routine, standardized vascular ultrasound procedures and techniques in accordance with instructions. GS-7 Level - Assignments at this grade level: Performs complex noninvasive vascular testing for diagnostic purposes. These procedures are performed with a variety of testing equipment and modalities to include B mode scanning, duplex imagining, Doppler spectral analysis, photoplethysmography, and upper and lower extremity, digit, and pensile blood pressures. The technician must be able to deviate from normal techniques when necessary. GS-8 Level - Assignments at the full performance grade level: Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) function as a senior technician. They are expected to perform the full range of vascular ultrasound procedures including the most complex and non-routine and to make the appropriate adjustments in established procedures and techniques to obtain the results required for clinical diagnosis and documentation. At this level the technician would also have the ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations. In addition, the incumbent must have good interpersonal skills, and experience in cerebrovascular, arterial, and venous evaluations. Expectations include the ability to perform a full range of clinically acceptable vascular procedures, which re of consistently acceptable quality, and establish a preliminary report on all patients. Typical exams performed include carotid duplex examinations, lower and upper extremity arterial studies, lower and upper extremity venous studies, and less commonly aortic/renal/mesenteric studies. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Work schedule will be discussed at interview. 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

Preferred Certification/Registration: Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) are highly desired but not required. Preferred Additional Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable but not required. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English. GS-6 Experience: At least 1 year of creditable specialized experience comparable to the GS-5 level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) related to the duties of the position to be filled. Creditable specialized experience is defined as experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform routine, standardized vascular ultrasound procedures where the technician is not expected to deviate from established procedures. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to perform standardized, routine vascular ultrasound procedures and/or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography. Ability to prepare preliminary reports from the examination including documentation of procedural difficulties in the medical record. QUALIFICATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience required to qualify for this position at the GS-7 or GS-8 grade level. GS-7 level: At least one full year of creditable specialized experience as a MIT (Vascular) equivalent to the next lower level (GS-6) which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position. Creditable specialized experience which demonstrates that the technician has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform complex procedures requiring the ability to select appropriate equipment based on symptomology and the objective of the examination and the ability to adapt procedures and techniques to enhance diagnostic results. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels which require adaptation of procedures or instruments. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs nd structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography6. This would also include knowledge of physiological influences on the hemodynamics of blood flow. Knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry to understand drug reactions, action, effects, and method of administration specifically related to vascular ultrasonography. Knowledge of disease entities that impact the vascular system and their influence on the test results to select the appropriate procedures. Ability to obtain a patient history and perform and appropriate physical assessment based on patient presentation and type of exam to include observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation. must demonstrate the ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination, the patient, and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures; knowledge of zoom, expansion, prospectus, color Doppler, and pulsed echo Doppler; knowledge of the digital transmission of images; ability to alter standard, but complex procedures and protocols to meet patient needs and physical limitations; and assistance with the performance of more complicated procedures and non-standardized procedures in a developmental capacity. GS-8 level: At least one full year of creditable specialized experience as a MIT (Vascular) equivalent to the next lower level (GS-7) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, nd other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmography tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts. Ability to perform intracranial (tr4anscranial) vascular examinations. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease. References: VA Handbook 5005/54, Part II, Appendix K, Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) Standards, dated 6/7/2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08. Physical Demands: This position requires the ability to pull, push, stoop, bend, and stand for long periods of time. The employee must be able to manipulate the patient position to allow for the best possible reading which requires flexibility and full range of movement. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Larry LaRoche
• Phone: 708-202-8387 X28161
• Email: [email protected]