Job opening: Diagnostic Radiologic Technician
Salary: $85 504 - 111 152 per year
Published at: Jan 29 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Duties
Performs digital radiologic imaging of neck, spine, chest, and body utilizing angiography/fluoroscopy, Ultrasound and CT.
Examinations include, thoracic, abdominal visceral and peripheral angiography, venograms, complex interventional radiography procedures that can be diagnostic and/or therapeutic.
Operate the angiographic equipment utilizing advanced imaging software.
Proficient use of the Ultrasound equipment including sterile preparation of the US equipment, optimization of the settings appropriate to each specific procedure.
Operates the CT scanner proficiently during CT guided interventions.
Reviews incoming requests and coordinates scheduling with radiology nurse and Radiologist.
Receives patient and confirms identity by verbal confirmation.
Transfers patients safely from stretcher or wheelchair to procedure table.
Responsible for setting up and positioning patients, providing immobilization devices, selecting proper technical factors on an individual patient basis, and operating the equipment.
Performs post processing reconstructions.
Performs majority of exams utilizing surgical sterile techniques.
Perform computer work and required forms associated with the patient exams.
Performs digital imaging, verifies image quality, transfer of images and archival to PACS system.
Verifies image transition using VISTA Imaging Display.
Identifies the patient and the image.
Responsible to the radiologists and supervisor for the quality of radiographic exams performed to assure a high level of acceptability of exams while minimizing patient dosage and reducing costs.
Recognizes and reports malfunctioning equipment.
Provide training to student radiographers/residents/nursing students/PA students from affiliated programs and facilities for the attainment of established program objectives.
Requires the technologist be available after hours, nights, weekends, and holidays during call assignments.
Must be available within 30 minutes from receipt of call.
Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data.
Implements and monitors infection control practices for disease.
Decontaminates non-critical medical supplies.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 08:00am - 04:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact
[email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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:
Citizenship.
All applicants are required to be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates.
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.
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).
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 75, 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.
Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain certification within two years, or who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
Physical Requirements.The incumbent will be required to do the following:
A. Position requires long periods of standing and walking, some bending, lifting, and carrying of moderately heavy items.
B. Requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions.
C. Ability to reach above shoulder required.
D. Both hands and use of fingers required.
E. Must be able to lift, carry and move heavy equipment/patients routinely
English Language Proficiency.
All applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
GRADE REQUIREMENTS.
a. 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 one 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 one week of full- time credit for each two weeks of half-time work.
Specialized Assignments.
Specialized areas of radiologic technology include general diagnostic radiologic technology (R), bone densitometry (BD), mammography (M), diagnostic ultrasound (S), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MR), interventional radiologic technology (IR), quality management (QM), picture archival communication system (PACS) technologist, MRI safety officer (MRSO), imaging administrator, clinical program director, and clinical instructor.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS.
In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist, GS-10
(1) Experience.
At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
(2) Assignments.
For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. DRTs at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments:
Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist.
Employees are trained to work in one or more difficult and complex modalities performing procedures related to these modalities as well as performing general diagnostic procedures. At this grade level, any assignment in a single modality must demonstrate significant complexity. Such assignments are unique, perhaps with expert specialization in complex areas of radiologic technology, Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) regulations, and intermediate QM type duties within the program.
The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
i. Knowledge of radiation protection standards, devices and techniques, including concepts of accumulated dosage, dose monitoring, and genetic changes.
ii. Ability to utilize advanced imaging software that supports complex imaging programs and recognize changes in equipment and procedures that might result in increased exposures, and ability to recommend methods to prevent such exposures.
iii. Knowledge of basic physics including concepts of energy, electric power, magnetic fields, and properties of x-ray, to understand the operation of the equipment.
iv. Knowledge and skill in positioning of patients for a wide variety of highly complex imaging (CT, MRI, IR, ultrasound, mammography) studies.
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).
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10.
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 Washington VA Medical Center
50 Irving Street, Northwest
Washington, DC 20422
US
- Name: Trudy Wachala
- Phone: 4106057000 X51841
- Email: [email protected]
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