Medical Instrument Technician-Echocardiography operates 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. The incumbent will serve as a Medical Instrument Technician (Echo) located at the Daytona Beach VA Outpatient Clinic.

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Echocardiograph Technician which involves operating medical equipment or instruments in connection with a variety of procedures which require a high degree of flexibility and judgment. The echocardiography technician is able to recognize evidences of cardiac emergencies on echocardiogram including acute myocardial infarction, serious arrhythmias, cardiac tamponade, mobile mass, vegetation, rupture of the ventricular wall and take appropriate action including notification of the physician, activate code blue team and initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Duties and responsibilities include but, are not limited to: Echocardiograms - The work involves highly complex echocardiographic imaging studies, recording for specific measurement, e.g. cardiac chamber size, wall thickness and wall motion, derive calculations of ejection fractions, cardiac output and abnormalities of left ventricular segmental wall motion. technician use independent judgment during the sonographic exam to accurately differentiate between normal and pathologic findings. Technician analyses sonogram and synthesizes sonographic examination and medical history and communicates findings to the cardiologist.3D - Derived left ventricular function and chamber quantification. Adequately performs full volume and LV quantification. Doppler Studies - The complex study involves using the pulse-wave (PW) and continuous-wave (CW) modes by taking a sample volume at a specific location to display blood flow information for that site, obtain maximum velocity by CW, Doppler tracing, recording information (Doppler Signals) for obstructive etiologies and regurgitation of valves as well as relaxation of the ventricles and digitization. Color Flow Studies - This shows the blood flow in color and has the ability to show regurgitation of the heart valves. The technician must make adjustments frequently to patient and equipment interfaces, etc., in order to individualize the examination and obtain appropriate information and calculation of jets and digitization. Transesophageal Echocardiograms - The technician has the responsibility of setting up US equipment the procedure to be done, ensuring that the ultrasound machine and TEE probe is unlocked, connected and ready for use. The technician is responsible to note serial number of TEE probe. The technician will have the task of operating and making adjustments to the ultrasound machine so that the best quality views can be visualized and recorded. Bubble Studies - The technician is responsible for setting up syringes to be used and for positioning patient for procedure. The technician will have the responsibility of operating the ultrasound machine so that best quality views are visualized and recorded. Ultrasound Opacification agents - The technician is responsible for determining the need for use of ventricular opacification agent. The technician is responsible to know the risk and benefit of it use and proper handling of the opacification agent including storage and injections, the technician is responsible for setting up syringes to be used and for positioning patient for procedure. The technician will have the responsibility of operating the ultrasound machine so that best quality views are visualized and recorded. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)/PD80164F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• Applicants must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

*** This vacancy is open to All U.S. Citizens on an Open & Continuous basis until this vacancy is filled Basic Requirements (All applicants must meet the following basic requirements): Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.GS-09 candidates must have all of the following: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-08) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of this experience include: receive and interpret physician's requests for diagnostic procedures and/or treatments; explain the procedure to the patient to secure the patient's confidence and cooperation; document the patient's record; independently perform standardized testing monitoring the patient for adverse reactions; and operate, calibrate, and clean and/or sterilize commonly used equipment. Assignments at this level require knowledge of standard medical terminology as well as common diseases and their specific affects. Preferred Experience: Five (5) years of experience in Echocardiography is HIGHLY PREFERRED. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (GS-9). 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 Echocardiography. *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. 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. Special Assignments. Non-supervisory echocardiography technicians may have assignments that because of their nature substantially exceed the full performance level. The Professional Standards Board will review proposed non-supervisory special assignments for the GS-9 level and make a determination regarding their appropriateness. These assignments are expected to be relatively few in number and must represent substantial additional responsibility over the full performance level. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/54, Part II, Appendix G-27 (D), Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Qualification Standard. 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 (FPL) of this vacancy is GS-09.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Michael Brown
• Phone: 407-631-8495
• Email: [email protected]