Echocardiography provides specialized services in the efficient operation of the Cardiovascular Laboratory and the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disorders for adult and geriatric patients. The position is located in the Medicine, Geriatrics, and PM&R at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, PA. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service, and as assigned.

Duties

Major duties include, but may not be limited to: Performs diagnostic Doppler-Echocardiograms on the patients with cardiac disease. Maintains the high level of skill necessary to obtain quality data including: M-mode and two dimensional echocardiograms, pulse wave and continuous wave velocity signals. Uses parasternal, apical subxiphoid, and suprasternal views to obtain complete diagnostic studies. Performs contrast-enhanced echocardiography performed during a transthoracic echocardiogram on patients who meet criteria. Follows Standard Operating Procedure and Protocol, to include explaining the procedure to the patient, screen for contraindications, and educating patient on side effects of medication; and activation and administering of Perflutren Lipid Microsphere (Definity). Technologists will have Operating Room privileges. Initial training will be provided by Surgical Service. The technologist assists in Operating Suite with Transesophageal Echocardiograms (TEE). The tech will verify the bite block is being used for all TEE procedures. The technologist will take the ultrasound to the Operating room and return it to the cardiology lab afterword and clean the machine. The technicians will be competent in assisting cardiologist with bubble studies in place of Air Contrast. The technologist must be exceptionally adaptive and creative in finding appropriate use for Doppler methods in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disorders. Innovation and judgment will be required to make decisions independently and without precedents on improving the accuracy and precision of the measurements. The technologist will be called upon to suggest follow up procedures after making preliminary evaluation of the data. In addition to echocardiography, the technologist: Performs Carotid Doppler studies on patients and maintains high level of skill necessary to independently obtain quality data. Coordinates scheduling of patients and transportation to and from the Cardiovascular Laboratory. Reassures patients and describes the nature of and reason for the test. Coordinates processing of requests, records, and reports from physicians to electronic record. Performs elementary preventive maintenance of the echo equipment and coordinates emergency and preventive services with Biomedical Engineering and outside service organizations. Maintains skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and actively assists in the procedure should the need arise anywhere in the Cardiovascular Laboratory. Understands VHA general policy in patient waiting time and maintains skills in patient scheduling. Schedules and prepares inpatients and outpatients for cardiovascular stress testing. Assists the practitioner in the performance of stress testing. Provides instruction in procedures and equipment relating to stress testing. Provides results of stress testing to the physician and the electronic patient record. Performs Event Recorders testing on inpatients and outpatients. Maintains the integrity of patient identification, maintains records, quality assurance and stays current with technological advances. Performs Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry set up and critical notifications to practitioners. May assist in completion of nuclear medicine studies, if requested by radiology staff. Performs other duties as required. Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible:Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 / MIT - Echocardiography Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-6, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle. Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. GS-7, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler. Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc. Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. GS-8, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow Doppler imaging. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart and valves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography. Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART 2, Appendix G27. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: High levels of energy and stamina are critical to cope with the demands of a rigorous job which requires the individual to work simultaneously in several areas: The Cardiovascular Laboratory and the Wards. The position requires lifting light to heavy items. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. It involves walking, frequent bending, reaching, and stretching. regular and recurring exposure of infection and contagious disease, which require health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing.

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Sharon Hill
• Phone: 770-901-1803
• Email: [email protected]