The incumbent performs a wide variety of complex ultrasound (US) imaging examinations for Fayetteville VA Medical Center patients to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury.

Duties

Receives and reviews requests from physicians and other health care providers for US examinations of patients. Determines the condition(s) at issue and the best way to meet the needs of the individual case. Receives and positions patient for examination. Explains procedures and actions to allay fears and secure maximum cooperation. Sets up, adjusts and operates sonography equipment. Incumbent will perform US exams to include, but not limited to: AAA screen, abdomen, aorta, bladder, breast, carotid, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), gallbladder, kidney, liver, pelvis, scrotum, spleen, thyroid, venous Doppler, renal and liver biopsy exams. Selects the appropriate protocol(s), and conducts examination, adjusting technique and equipment to best present the medically significant aspects found. If unanticipated conditions or anomalies are discovered, extends and modifies procedure to ensure full and accurate information as to findings and patient condition. Monitors patient condition during examination and, if necessary, renders emergency aid and summons assistance. Assists radiologist or physician in evaluating results. Trains other personnel in US principals, procedures, capabilities, techniques, and equipment. Explains concepts and principles of the methodology and its use and limitations as a diagnostic tool. Develops ultrasound imaging training plans for incorporation in other programs of instruction. Conducts hands-on training and technical oversight of other technologists. Develops or adapts and documents new or changed procedures to accommodate equipment changes or new techniques in ultrasound imaging. Performs operator level maintenance and care of equipment. Assists in calibration and troubleshooting of malfunctions of all equipment associated with the US unit. Identifies need for and initiates action to obtain higher-level support. Establishes and monitors quality control program. Establishes and maintains a variety of files and records relating to ultrasound activities and functions. Prepares reports of examinations, equipment status and utilization, workload, supply status and consumption, and related matters. Assures migration of images from the US unit to the Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) is correct and complete. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Hours 8:00am to 4:30pm. 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. Certification: All applicants must be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology ARRT. Advanced certification is required; advanced certification indicates that the incumbent can operate independently and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination. In modalities that require advanced certification, to support their continued development, technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist. (Certification required). English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both written and spoken English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 (d), and 7407 (d). Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE). Credentialing Standards: Public Law 97-35, the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 5, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field. Must have ARRT (R) certification (with Ultrasound experience). 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 REQUIREMENTS: Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Radiologic Technology Practice. To be creditable, experience must have demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (also referred to as clinical competencies) associated with current radiologic technology practice. This may have been evidenced by the equivalent of 1 year of active practice, which is paid or non-paid employment as a DRT as defined by ARRT. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was earned after completion of the basic certification requirements identified in paragraph 2b above. Experience as a graduate DRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a DRT and subsequently passed the certification examination.(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a DRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a DRT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Specialized Assignments: Ultrasound (Diagnostic/Vascular) Sonography) (S), (VS). Positions should be assigned to the DRT, GS-0647 series, when both ultrasound and other modalities which require the delivery of ionizing radiation are performed. Positions in which ultrasound duties are performed exclusively (no other modalities are performed), should be assigned to the medical instrument technician, GS-649 series, since ultrasound duties solely do not require the delivery of ionizing radiation. Diagnostic ultrasound uses high frequency sound wavers and other diagnostic techniques for medical purposes. The practitioner must be competent in the production, uses, recognition, and analysis of ultrasound images and patterns used for patient diagnosis and treatment. The sonographer is regarded as the expert source of all ultrasound imaging, and the interpreting radiologist relies heavily on the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the sonographers in providing a final interpretation. Within this specialization, there is a diverse range of ultrasound imaging sub-specialties. These include: Diagnostic medical sonography - abdominal, neurologic, obstetrical/gynecologic, musculoskeletal (MSK), a breast; and: Vascular sonography-arterial and venous doppler, spectral analysis, and calculating ankle brachial index (ABI). IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) (Ultrasound) - GS-9 (Full Performance Level) Experience: All applicants must have at east one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-08 in the federal government. Example of qualifying specialized experience (this experience must be clearly detailed on your resume to be found qualified): consists of experience directly related to DRT Ultrasound and may have been acquired through operating, supervising the operation of, or instructing the operation of equipment related to Ultrasound. Certification. In addition to DRT basic requirements and experience equivalent to the GS-8, ARRT certification is required for Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (Ultrasound) assignments. Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSA). You must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk(*): *Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures. Skill to demonstrate appropriate techniques to gather relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers. *Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure. Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography. Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions. Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients. (Your experience must be detailed in your résumé to receive full credit.) References: VA Handbook 5005/119, Part II, Appendix G25 dated December 13, 2019. THIS POSITION IS ABOVE THE FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center 2300 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 US
• Name: Elizabeth Johnson
• Phone: 828-298-7911 X5322
• Email: [email protected]