This position is located in the Preoperative Care Clinical Practice Section, James J. Peters VAMC Bronx, NY. The Gastroenterology Section provides specialty health care to Veterans throughout VISN 2. The Medical Instrument Technician is a member of the Gastroenterology/Endoscopy (GI/ENDO) team and provides assistance to the physician, registered nurse, and other team members during diagnostic examinations or medical treatment procedures as part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Duties

Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position: Functions as a primary person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during GI procedures such as: anoscopy, argon plasma cautery, colonoscopy, cytology, digestive tract biopsies, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), enteroscopy, esophageal biopsy, esophageal dilation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), liver biopsy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (P EG), pH/Manometry Studies, polypectomies, and sigmoidoscopy. A. Procedural rooms for the performance of GI procedures. Sets up GI procedure rooms with all required items for each procedure such as video equipment, endoscopes, endoscope flushing system, image management systems RCP equipment, Fluoroscopy/x-ray, EUS equipment, computers and monitors, cautery units, and reprocessing equipment. B. Prepare and processes Semi Critical and Non Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with appropriate Standard Operating Procedures. C. Plans d discusses each procedure with the GI team professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the GI procedures. D. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex GI endoscopes. E. Observe and responds promptly to each stage of the GI procedures and anticipates the needs of the physician and/or registered nurse by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time. F. Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimen, supplies, and equipment, as well as follows all RME reprocessing protocol for high level of disinfection. G. Assists the GI Team members with care of the patient, i.e.: ,positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies. H. Applies various monitoring equipment, i.e., BP/P/O2Sat/ECG, etc., when assisting with patient procedure preparation. Performs BGM tests. Transports sedated/non-sedated patients to/from PACU via Stretcher/WC safely. I. Handle all GI specimens appropriately. J. Responsible for the accountability for all GI instruments and equipment during and after the procedure. K. Assists e physician, and/or registered nurse with instrumentation necessary to perform the required procedure and treatment such as obtaining biopsies, brushings, performing polypectomies, inflation of balloon dilators, and injection of contrast solutions during GI procedures. Prepares diagnostic biopsy specimens, assessing the adequacy of each, and placing in appropriate specimen bottle with appropriate labeling to meet pathology laboratory specifications during procedures. Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21U15-A 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: 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. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. 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. 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. Gastroenterology (GI) Technicians assist the practitioner in endoscopic procedures, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound. The technicians ensure proper performance of equipment, set up equipment, and reprocess endoscopic reusable medical equipment (RME). Certification is offered by the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) for level one and level two training. GI endoscope reprocessing certification is offered through the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD). 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: Creditable Experience - Knowledge of Current Medical Instrument Technician Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current Medical Instrument Technician practice appropriate to the identified specialty area. Specialized developmental experience obtained under supervision of appropriately certified individuals may be credited at higher levels and is addressed in individual appendices. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position/specialty to be filled. Part-time Experience. Part time experience is credited according to its relationship to a full time workweek. For example, an individual employed 20 hours per week, or on a ½ time basis would receive one work week credit for each two weeks of service. Fellowships. Not Applicable Internships. Not Applicable Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the criteria discussed in the applicable headings, or that defined in the appendices, must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-7 GI Technician (Full Performance Level):(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and procedures. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of endoscopic equipment and use in basic and complex endoscopic procedures. 2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to the GI system, with ability to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures. 3. Ability to assist physician with specialized, complex procedures. 4. Knowledge of universal precautions and disinfection techniques and ability to follow SOP's to clean reusable medical equipment (RME). 5. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service skills and interpersonal skills with all healthcare professionals to ensure quality and continuity of care. 6. Ability to use basic computer systems and programs to record patient and endoscopic data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policies. 7. Ability to deliver patient care, including vital sign measurements and medication administration. (c) Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BLS certification. (d) Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Technicians at this level function with minimal instruction, assisting the staff with complex specialized procedures such as ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). They are proficient with GI endoscopic equipment and ensure proper performance of endoscopic equipment; select alternate equipment or adjust equipment settings to accommodate patient needs and produce high quality technique. They collect, process, and label all specimens; train other technicians in basic endoscopic procedures; work in and outside the GI unit offering technician support during emergent and on-call endoscopic cases; and assist the nurse in patientcare duties such as obtaining vital signs, dressing and documenting all pertinent information in the patient's records. They inventory and maintain par levels of specialty equipment for the endoscopy unit. Preferred Experience: Possess technical experience in GI Endoscopy, ERCP & Erbee, retrieve, prepare case room with all instruments supplies and scopes, EUS, Endoscopic ultrasound, EDG, colonoscopy, Endoscopic mucosal resection, feeding tubes, push, pulls, hot, cold polypectomy, snares, loop catches, forcepts, clips sigmoidscopy, foreign body removal, migrated stent removal, dilations, extractions and Balloon sweep, CRE-hurricane. Turn on and connect all monitors, cables, scopes suctions, irrigations References: VA Handbook 5005/54 PART II, APPENDIX G27The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VHA Handbook 5019.

Education

There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.

Contacts

• Address Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Aleni Salcedo
• Phone: 917 859 9405
• Email: [email protected]