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.

Duties

Echocardiography Functions: The technique is extremely operator dependent, and the examination process is complex. The cardiac sonographer must use independent judgment in applying knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound, and Doppler principles. The sonographer must use problem-solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure that it is comprehensive and accurate. The sonographer records and interprets the result of the exam and presents information and or possible diagnosis to interpreting physician. Failure to integrate such data may lead to inaccurate exam and erroneous clinical interpretation. The incumbent performs 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave Doppler and color flow exam. Performs transthoracic examinations. Performs stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals. Assists physician in completion of results of exam. Receives patients, explains procedure and performs exam. Responsible for independently setting, calibrating, and operating of machinery. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Performs diagnostic Doppler-Echocardiograms on patients - uses parasternal, apical, subxiphoid, suprasternal and other views to obtain complete diagnostic studies. Responsible for the timely input of results into the patient's file. Responds to emergency requests from the inpatient units and intensive care unit to perform the procedure at bedside whenever the condition of the patient precludes transportation to the Specialty Clinic. Coordinates scheduling of patients and transportation to and from the clinic. Reassures patients and describes the nature and reason for the test. Maintains logs of patient data and library of digital records. Performs elementary preventive maintenance of the equipment and coordinates emergency and preventive service with Biomedical Engineering. Maintains skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and actively assists in the procedure should the need arise. Assesses and annotates damage to heart muscle. Decides when optimal view is achieved displaying area or damage requested by the physician. Administers intravenous contrast where indicated and acquires echo images post contrast administration. Assist with collateral duties within the cardiology clinic. Electrocardiogram Administrator Functions: Ensures compliance with VHA directive 1102.06. Coordinates with VA medical facility biomedical engineering staff on the creation and maintenance of an ECG cart location table with mutually agreed-upon naming conventions. Confirming patient demographic errors on ECG tracings sent to the ECG management system, which may be common and correcting as needing. Routing "unconfirmed" ECGs in the ECG Management system to the "in-basket" (e.g., electronic list view) of the VA medical facility designated ECG interpreting clinician each weekday except for Federal holidays. Performing initial set up of ECG interpreting clinician user profiles in the ECG image management system Verifying on a weekly basis the workflow configuration on the ECT Management system including management of location ranges for user profiles, configuration of provider in baskets and oversight of filters applied to the system. Running a database query each weekday except for Federal holidays on the ECG management system to identify unread/unconfirmed ECG tracings, mismatched ECG tracings, or other failures to properly route ECT tracings for provider interpretation and address as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: a. Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. 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. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. c. 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. d. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-9. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. 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. 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: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Echocardiography. 2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. 4. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: 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 Carl Vinson VA Medical Center 1826 Veterans Boulevard Dublin, GA 31021 US
• Name: James Brinson
• Email: [email protected]