Vascular Techs/Sonographers operate diagnostic equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT).

Duties

The duties of this position include but are not limited to: Performs all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical lead of the vascular laboratory. Provides oversight and/or guidance to other technicians. Provides training of the more complex and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision of these procedures. Evaluates and initiates performance improvement projects and writes policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to vascular ultrasonography. Ensures guidance of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. Communicates effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. Manages and supervises employees. Provides staff development and training. Specializes in advanced knowledge of standards of medical practice in applicable medico-legal responsibilities in vascular ultrasound procedures. Teaches responsibilities of correct methodology of vascular ultrasound procedures for the facility, theory of operations, and theory of interpretation of results to trainees at all levels (PA students, residents, physicians), and registered vascular sonography students, should HVAMC be successful in establishing itself as a training site with local affiliates, or awarded a grow-your-own RVT educational slot. Identifies education or training needs in vascular sonography services in more complex and non-standard cases. Specializes in ability to establish a facility aneurysm screening program. Verifies patient identification and that the requested procedure correlates with the patient's clinical history, presentation, and reason for referral. Conducts patient interview for pertinent medical history and current symptoms, physically assessing the patient through observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation. Reviews medical record for previous angiographic data, surgical findings and other pertinent information. Consults with referring provider if required for clarification and determines most appropriate procedure. Serves as a clinical expert, demonstrating advanced knowledge of the most complex and non-standard procedures, treatments, and techniques. Performs all ultrasound procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, providing a preliminary report for review by the Vascular Surgeon that is directly used as the basis for treatment decisions. Performs cerebrovascular duplex, upper and lower extremity arterial and venous duplex, abdominal duplex, segmental/digit/penile pressures, and physciologic testing. Additionally, performs ultrasound-guided manual compression of femoral artery pseudo aneurysms, assists with thrombin injection and aspiration procedures, performs intra-operative scanning and transcranial exams when needed. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Certification/ Registrations: Not required, highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) The preferred candidate is one with BCLS and or ACLS as well as Registration. 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. 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-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. GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation. 2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts. 3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations. 4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume. 5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease. Experience: At least 1 year of 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 the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and/or guidance to other technicians. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment.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 vascular ultrasonography.*2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.*4. Ability to manage and supervise employees.*5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 Part II, Appendix G27, Medical Instrument Technician, Dated MARCH 17, 2006The full performance level of this vacancy is GS9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS9 Physical Requirements: a) Lifting, turning, transferring patients on a bed, stretcher, or wheelchair. b) Moving ultrasound equipment on wheels (weighing up to approximately 500 pounds). c) Use of upper extremities, at times with prolonged arm or hand positions for scanning. d) Fine motor skills/dexterity to manipulate transducers and utilize computers. e) Adequate visual acuity, as the majority of procedures are performed in a dimly lit room. f) Adequate hearing acuity to detect very high frequency flow or very faint Doppler signals. g) Ability to work in close proximity to others, sometimes in a distracting environment. h) Standing/sitting up to 6 hours/day; Stooping/bending & Pushing/pulling

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 Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Charlotte Wright
• Phone: 804-948-4830
• Email: [email protected]