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

SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols that pertain to echocardiography following lAC guidelines. Plans and assists in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program. Develops and maintains patient preparation procedures so that patients and wards understand the proper preparations for ultrasound examinations to minimize delays of examinations. Ability to perform diagnostic cardiac ultrasound: m-mode, two-dimensional ultrasound contrast diagnostic ultrasound and bubble studies. Ability to perform cardiac pulsed and continuous wave ultrasound doppler to identify and characterize intra-cardiac blood flow patterns. Ability to perform transesophageal cardiac ultrasound. Ability to perform stress echocardiography (exercise or pharmacological). Responsible for equipment maintenance and calibration. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures, and rearrange patients scheduled to accommodate emergent / STAT exams. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT DUTIES: Assist in developing WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device Protocol. Develop and maintains training programs for current sonographers and incoming Cardiology fellows for the WATCHMAN protocol. Assist in implementation and maintenance of IAC Echocardiography Accreditation program. Assist in implementation of the QA/QI program of correlation. Assist in implementation and maintenance of exercise stress bike protocol severe valvular disease process. Assist as a Super User/Trainor for the new McKesson Cardiology Reading Workstations. Responsible for IT management of DICOM, PACS, and HL7 interface in relation to ultrasound devices, reading, and data transfer templates. Assist in management of 2 CD copying robots, ordering supplies, and fulfilling CD copying work orders for the outline clinic providers and patients. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available 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

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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations". For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition. 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).Echocardiography Technicians operate diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS). Grade Determinations: GS-9. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. Experience: At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Echocardiography. *2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. 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. For Reference: GS-8 Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler. They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination. They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility, variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient, presence of prosthesis or foreign objects, and ultrasonic response of different body parts. They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound. Preferred Qualifications: PE 3 - Minimum 2 years' TEE experience in Accredited ECHO lab PE 4 - Minimum 2 years' Stress ECHO experience in Accredited ECHO lab PE 5 - Minimum 2 years' ECHO experience in Accredited ECHO lab PE 6 - Lead Echo - 3-5 years' experience in Echo, minimum 2 years' in ICEAL Accreditation, 3D, Strain and Mitral valve quantification References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G27, Dated 3/17/2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking 6 hours, Standing 6 hours, Repeated bending 2-4 hours, Both eyes required, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Mental/emotional stability, Ability to perform privileges, Independently performs, physical exam as appropriate to position, Cognitive stability.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Accreditation Information: The degree must be fully accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLNAC). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from http://www.nlnac.org.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by the National League for Nursing at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the NLNAC website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]