The incumbent is cross trained to be proficient in two imaging modalities: Interventional Radiology and General Radiography. Under general supervision, operate angiographic, radiographic, and fluoroscopic equipment to acquire diagnostic images of patients, and provide guidance for invasive procedures to diagnose and treat disease. Exam requests are screened for appropriateness and reviewed with a radiologist as needed.

Duties

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Receive patients, confirm patient identification, obtain patient history, provide patient education, provide reassurance, and ensure patient comfort. Review exam requests for appropriateness before performing exams. Use appropriateness criteria, the clinical history provided on the request, patient interview, chart review or contact with the ordering clinician to clarify as needed. Screen for duplicate requests, repeat of a recent exam (either in house or at an outside facility), or redundant evaluation completed by another imaging modality (e.g., CT, MRI, Radiography). Discontinue duplicate orders. Apply strategies to reduce risk of falls - remove obstacles and tripping hazards. Continually assess the condition and needs of patients to ensure patient safety, comfort, privacy, and dignity. Coordinate care to provide service timely to the clinical need. Apply principles of customer service and whole health to promote a positive patient experience. Assist schedulers in making appointments that are timely, coordinated with other appointments, when possible, to reduce travel burden, and aligned with the overall care plan. Maintain awareness of imaging orders outside the immediate section to ensure completion of as many orders as feasible at the same visit. Inform patients and families in the waiting area when there are delays. Apply radiation safety practices, including the concepts of time, distance and shielding, and the ALARA principle of keeping radiation exposure to As Low as Reasonably Achievable. Screen for pregnancy in female patients with potential of being pregnant; implement lab test for pregnancy when indicated by policy. Screen imaging history and pending orders to prevent redundant exams and unnecessary radiation. Perform general maintenance operations on equipment such as warm-up and shut down sequences, calibration, QC, and basic troubleshooting. Maintain logs to document equipment performance history and malfunctions. Apply knowledge of the anatomy, organ systems and pathology relevant to angiography or radiography to ensure proper positioning and exposure, and to identify critical pathology that requires prompt medical attention. When critical pathology is suspected, alert the radiologist or other provider as appropriate. Demonstrate knowledge of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems), including fundamental knowledge of network interfaces, routing of images to electronic archives, quality control, and basic troubleshooting. Ensure completed exams are properly archived both in PACS and VISTA Imaging. Demonstrate knowledge of sterile technique and concept of the sterile field in both the operating room and radiographic procedure settings with skill to operate fluoroscopic and radiographic equipment while maintaining asepsis. Demonstrate knowledge of infection control practices, including modes of transmission, precautions, and preventive measures. Demonstrate knowledge in the use of iodinated contrast materials, the appropriate concentration and types for various applications and the route of administration for various contrast imaging studies. Store and administer iodinated contrast media adhering to standards of medication management. Understand the risks, side effects and contraindications of contrast use, and the appropriate clinical applications, dosages, routes, and rates of administration. Demonstrate knowledge of contrast reactions, how to recognize them and levels of response. Document contrast administration, dose, route, and other related aspects of care in CPRS. Document adverse events in CPRS using approved reporting tools. Perform general radiography exams. Operate Direct Radiography (DR) equipment including portable and fixed radiography units. Operate angiographic imaging equipment and coordinate patient care before, during and after procedures in collaboration with the provider performing the procedure, the ordering service, Nursing, Pre-Op Clinic, PACU and other relevant staff or sites of care to ensure safe and effective delivery of care. Provide rotational coverage for all established tours per departmental needs. Provide overtime coverage on an emergency basis as needed. Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm as needed by the service Virtual: This is not a virtual position. ONLY OPEN TO ASHEVILLE VAMC FACILITY EMPLOYEES

Requirements

Qualifications

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 in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or Mammography (M) duties performed independently, as applicable. 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 is required) Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE). English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 (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 Assignment: Interventional Radiography (IR). Technologists working in this special assignment may function as vascular interventional (VI), cardiac interventional (CI) and/or cardiovascular-interventional (CV) technologists which use specialized equipment to perform diagnostic angiographic procedures and complex vascular and nonvascular interventional and therapeutic procedures. This specialty requires additional knowledge of vascular systems and major vessel anatomy. The technologist must be knowledgeable in the specialized equipment employed for digital subtraction systems and interventional procedures. The technologist administers contrast media under the supervision of the staff radiologist and confers with the radiologist to establish requirements regarding contrast agents, vital signs, medications, and physiologic monitoring to perform procedures. IR technologist must be knowledgeable in digital imagining and PACS. Specialized Assignment: General Radiologic Technology (R). DRTs perform procedures and examinations in hospitals or clinics under the direction of radiologists and other medical officers. The objective of the examinations and procedures is to produce radiographic studies that are used in medical diagnosis and interpreted by medical officers to locate injuries, foreign bodies, pathological conditions, or lesions within the body. They prepare and administer contrast media and medications in accordance with State and Federal regulations. All DRTs must be knowledgeable in computerized [and digital radiography (CR/DR),] and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS). In addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above, applicants must meet the grade requirements for GS-09 Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (CV) (R). Preferred Experience: Experience with major/ minor procedures. References: Qualifications are those for a GS-647-9 DRT as outlined in VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II, Appendix G 25. Physical Requirements: Bending, pushing, pulling, reaching and occasional kneeling, crawling and squatting; lifting, carrying, bending, and manipulation of equipment; patient assistance and positioning; walking and prolonged standing; the ability to read written orders, computer screens, patient records, and equipment controls; and the ability to communicate with patients, physicians, and coworkers; near visual acuity to assess patient's physical condition when performing exams, and evaluating images for diagnostic quality; must be able to speak and hear to communicate with patients; and have the ability to make critical decisions, interact with patients of different ages and health conditions, maintain patient confidentiality, and work under stressful conditions, such as operating or emergency rooms.

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 Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Cesar Busanet
• Phone: 980-401-2564
• Email: [email protected]