Job opening: Diagnostic Radiologic Technician (Quality Management)
Salary: $85 453 - 111 086 per year
Published at: Oct 04 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Quality Management Technologist is fully responsible for managing and maintaining the daily Radiologic Quality Control program for the Orlando VAHCS to include the Lake Nona campus, OPC's and CBOC's where Radiographic imaging equipment is in use. Incumbent is knowledgeable of Quality Control/Quality Assurance guidelines, regulations, and standards set by external auditing bodies (e.g. JCAHO, OSHA, ACR etc) and ensures that those applicable guidelines, regulations, and standards are followed.
Duties
The Incumbent performs the following duties:
Maintains accurate records, as required by management, and provides statistical information as required for quality assurance analysis, quality control, performance improvement and workflow improvement. Reviews radiographs produced throughout the service in terms of quality in a timely manner; coordinate with individual and Technologists as well as work Lead Technologist and Supervisors to improve the overall quality of images produced. Trains staff on quality assurance and control issues. Reviews requisitions for Radiologic services for completeness and makes sure that the appropriate views were taken. Track performance issues and identify trends with the purpose of individual and group training to better quality of images/examinations. Coordinates training of personnel with vendors and sets up training of replacement personnel with knowledgeable technologists/personnel.
Responsible for implementing and supervising the DRT Peer Review Program. Selects and provides random selections of exams performed by technologists to a panel for quality control purposes as well as for review of departmental policy compliance. Incumbent utilizes the information from this review to develop material for individual and departmental training, in-services, and Quality Improvement initiatives.
Works closely with the PACs Administrators for the service. He/she resolves exceptions of mismatched images or exams in a timely manner as well as ensuring exams are properly matched to the patient and to the appropriate order. In collaboration with the service ADPAC ensures that the Vista order menus are up to date and assist in the creation of new orders as necessary.
Assists supervisory personnel across the service in coordinating monthly Radiology In-service meetings. Arranges and presents in-service training classes to technologists and other personnel involved in the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of imaging equipment maintained within the Radiology service.
Serves as the maintenance officer for the Service and, as such, interacts with technical personnel of the Healthcare and Technology Management (HTM) Engineering Section. Coordinates scheduling of preventative maintenance for all modalities through HTM personnel. Works with vendors and personnel to identify and set technical parameters, processes, and algorithms necessary to produce high quality imaging. Incumbent identifies equipment problems; initiates work orders for maintenance requiring repairs and reports unsafe or failing equipment to appropriate service personnel. Maintains thorough and current knowledge of x-ray and other image-producing machinery. Incumbent is knowledgeable of PACS systems, particularly at the level of image correction and transmission. Incumbent performs daily inspection of radiographic units to ensure proper mechanical functionality. Performs as needed daily, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual QC testing of radiographic equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Works closely with the Radiation Safety Officer, and Medical Physicist to ensure compliance with radiation safety programs and for acceptance testing of all new installations of equipment. Responsible for the state of equipment in all areas at all times and must track and report equipment malfunctions and corrective actions in a timely manner.
Utilizes Vista/MAXIMO and other software programs for monthly, quarterly and as needed reporting of activity and usage data. Provides periodic written reports of accomplishments and statistical data for quality assurance, proposals for improved effectiveness, cost containment, state of equipment, and equipment needs to the Chief Technologist, Imaging Program Administrator, and Radiology Service Chief.
Performs routine diagnostic x-ray procedures when required. Properly identifies patient. Responsible for explaining exams to the patients so that the patient understands what is to be done as well as what hazards, if any, is possible. Incumbent can operate all fixed and mobile digital radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging equipment across all imaging sites within corporate Orlando when assigned by supervisor. Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients, staff and self. He/she must also be aware of and practice the safety policies and procedures of the Medical Center and participate in quality assurance activities as directed.
Keeps Radiology Electronic Inventory List up to date. Initiates necessary paperwork for equipment to be turned in and assures that necessary entries are made for new equipment received. Makes periodic inventories and keeps the Chief of Radiology informed of findings.
Driving Required - 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position
Work Schedule: Mon.- Fri. (8:00am-4:30pm)
Telework: adhoc - as determined by agency policy
Virtual: N/A
Functional Statement #: 82204F
Qualifications
***This vacancy is open to current permanent corporate Orlando VA Healthcare System Radiology employees (SERVICE-LINE) ONLY.***
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.
a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.)
b. Certification. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT).
c. 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).][NOTE: Assignment to the clinical program director requires meeting JRCERT minimum educational standards as noted in the assignment description.]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. All persons employed in VHA as a DRT 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 certification that are part of the basic requirements of the DRT occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) DRTs that require a certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) DRTs that require a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
(3) DRTs 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.
(4) DRTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(5) Employees who are retained as a DRT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a DRT.
e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
f. English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
Grade Determinations: DRT (QM), GS-647-11
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-10) directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies needed to provide services as a quality control technologist, DRT team leader, supervisory radiologic technologist, [PACS technologist, clinical program director], or an assistant chief radiologic technologist.
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:
Quality Management Technologist. This position has full oversight responsibility of departmental Quality Management program and may also include oversight of a departmental Quality Improvement (QI) program. That may include directing the work of lower graded staff. The technologist performs daily inspection[s] of radiographic units to ensure proper mechanical functionality [ ] and] ensures daily functionality of CR readers. [The technologist provides in- service training for technologists and other personnel involved in the operation and maintenance of CR readers, DR panels, and other PACS type of operations maintained within the department. The technologist] coordinates scheduling of preventative maintenance for modalities either through biomedical engineering or local contractor service. The technologist works with physicists to ensure compliance with radiation safety program and for acceptance testing of all new installations of equipment. The technologist maintains accurate records, as required by management, for quality assurance analysis, quality control, performance improvement, and other related purposes.
The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
i. Knowledge of all Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and VA standards regarding radiology quality assurance and other technical functions.
ii. [Ability] to train staff on quality assurance and control.
[iii. Knowledge of inventory management systems.]
iv. Knowledge of x-ray and other image-producing machinery in order to design and operate a complete radiology quality assurance program.
v. Knowledge of physics and [physical properties of CR and DR panels and image production to diagnose difficulties in x-ray machinery and post processing equipment.
Preferred Experience: Minimum of three years creating and or maintaining a service wide QM program.
References: APPENDIX G25. DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0647
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11.
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 Orlando VA Medical Center
13800 Veterans Way
Orlando, FL 32827
US
- Name: Michael Brown
- Phone: 407-631-8495
- Email: [email protected]
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