The incumbent performs all duties related to the support of echocardiography services in the facility; required to perform a full range of complex cardiac ultrasound procedures including special procedures and complicated examinations for which there are no standard instructions or procedures. Independently performs diagnostic cardiac ultrasound examinations in outpatient settings throughout all areas of VA. Diagnostic ultrasound scans are performed in a technically acceptable manner.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the technical quality of his/her work. Responsible for insuring procedures are accomplished within the established time frames and are coordinated with the other sections of the hospital. Endeavors to balance efficient and effective patient care. Provides scheduling for both inpatients and outpatients and ensures that patients requiring emergent or critical procedures are triaged appropriately. Consults with the lead technicians and/or clinical providers regarding triage of emergent or critical procedures. Ensures procedures performed are appropriate and necessary based upon the information provided. This is accomplished independently while complying to established criteria and/or special instructions. In complex cases, the incumbent will initiate consultation with experienced technicians for further guidance. Confers with cardiology staff at VA SORCC and VA Portland HCS regarding special requests, unusual findings, or imaging difficulties. Additionally, the incumbent informs experienced cardiology staff of any significant findings that need urgent evaluation. Independently positions the patient in accordance to any patient limitations and obtains diagnostic ultrasound images of the heart and all required measurements. Performs routine and non-routine dimensional and Doppler measurements from digitized images per established protocol and industry standards. Proficient with common computer programs and specialized cardiac ultrasound exam analyzing systems to prepare study for report generation and interpretation. Accurately maintain procedure and patient records following strict guidelines regarding confidentiality. The incumbent performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations including but not limited to: A. Transthoracic Echo: I. Educates and prepares patient for transthoracic echo exam. II. Acquires high quality, diagnostic images and all required measurements. III. Uses ultrasound picture archiving system to display images for side by side analysis and interpretation by physician. B. Stress Echo: I. Educates and prepares patient for stress echo exam. II. Acquires high quality images before, during, and after exercise stress protocol and as directed by the physician. III. Uses ultrasound picture archiving system to display test and post exercise images for side by side analysis and interpretation by physician. C. Contrast Echocardiograms: I. Educates and prepares patient for echo contrast examination. II. Ensures proper IV placement for optimal exam quality. III. Coordinates with provider and patient to ensure the acquisition of high quality, diagnostic images. D. Agitated Saline Bubble Echocardiograms: I. Educates and prepares patient for bubble study exam II. Ensures proper IV placement for optimal exam quality III. Coordinates with provider and patient to ensure the acquisition of high quality, diagnostic images Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000/Medical Instrument Technician Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Basic Experience/Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Experience is covered under grade requirements. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Grade Determinations: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level 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. KSA's: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G-27The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

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 White City VA Medical Center 8495 Crater Lake Highway White City, OR 97503 US
• Name: Keri Perez
• Phone: 541-440-1000 X40312
• Email: [email protected]