Job opening: Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (MRI)
Salary: $77 511 - 100 761 per year
Published at: Jan 02 2025
Employment Type: Full-time
GS-10 Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (MRI)
The employee is certified/licensed by the American Registry of Radiology Technologists (ARRT) with R and MR designations. This specialty modality requires additional knowledge of super conducting magnets, the physics of superconducting magnets, and how they relate to the human anatomy in medical imaging. Technologist must be educated in the safety factors governing a magnetic environment that patients, visitors, and equipment enter.
Duties
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
a. Safeguards the MRI Scanning environment sufficient to always maintain a safe condition. Employee observes patient safety guidelines as set forth in department and Medical Center policies and procedures.
b. Provides input for the development of policy and procedure for the MRI section, pursuant
to the delivery of MRI services at the highest possible standard of patient safety, in
accordance with the recommendations of the American College of Radiology, The Joint
Commission and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies.
c. In conjunction with the radiologist, develops, maintains, and improves a system of
examination protocols to standardize examination appearance, to tailor the images
obtained to the pathologic condition being investigated, and to optimize the benefit to the
patient being examined.
d. Trains other personnel in MRI principles, procedures, capabilities, techniques, and
equipment. Explains concepts and principles of the methodology and its use and
limitations as a diagnostic tool.
e. Interprets requests and instructions from medical providers, under the guidance of the
Radiologist.
f. Properly identifies patient by confirming patient name and social security number. This is
essential so that mistaken identity of patient images does not occur.
g. Informs the patient about the examination, securing their trust, confidence, and
cooperation.
h. Fully screens each patient for contra-indications or risk factors for any of the techniques
that are to be used in the examination. Collaboration with the Radiologist will take place
in the presence of any of the above, and the examination and/or the patient's post
procedural care will be adjusted accordingly.
i. Under the direction of the Radiologist or Licensed Independent Provider (LIP) the
technologist prepares, labels, and administers contrast agents according to signed orders.
j. Technologist is required to maintain adequate competency to insert an appropriate IV
catheter and the use of automated or manual injection techniques according to signed
contrast orders.
k. Ensures that the contrast injection and the scanning sequences are timed appropriately so
that the desired vascular phase images are obtained.
l. Positions the patient and the image cut planes correctly for high quality views and will
vary the patient position and cut planes as necessary to adjust for the patient's medical
condition and abilities.
m. Adjusts all operator controllable parameters of the MRI equipment, ensuring that the
portion of the body specified receives the correct, calculated exposure to variable
magnetic fields, radio wave signals, or ionizing radiation.
n. The technologist uses their specialized knowledge of anatomy to correctly visualize the
desired features of the patient.
o. Actively participates and monitors quality control program parameters. Reports
deviations in Q.C. tests and defects in MRI and Imaging equipment, power injector, and
patient monitor to MRSO, supervisor, and biomedical engineer for repair or calibration.
Maintains equipment malfunction and downtime log.
p. Maintains effective relationship with manufacturer service representative in order to help
diagnose and fix equipment over the phone and in person.
q. Monitors temperature in Computer room and Control room and notifies Facilities
Management (Engineering) when temperature is out of range required for MRI computer
operation.
r. Assures migration of images from the MRI and Imaging unit to the Picture Archiving
Communication System (PACS) is correct and complete.
s. Observes all patients under their care for change in condition, reporting to medical
authorities as necessary to insure the health and wellbeing of the patient.
t. Follows infection prevention practices, maintaining a clean and sanitized environment for
the performance of imaging procedures. Properly cleans equipment and items in
accordance with facility Reusable Medical Equipment guidelines and policies.
Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Qualifications
All requirements must be met by the close date of this announcement, 01/13/2025
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.
Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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).
Credentialing Standards. Public Law 97-35, the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field.
English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
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).
Grade Determinations:
GS-10 Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-9, directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. These include: Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures; Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers; Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure; Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography; Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions; Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients.
AND
Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
AND
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
i. Knowledge of radiation protection standards, devices and techniques, including concepts of accumulated dosage, dose monitoring, and genetic changes.
ii. Ability to utilize advanced imaging software that supports complex imaging programs and recognize changes in equipment and procedures that might result in increased exposures, and ability to recommend methods to prevent such exposures.
iii. Knowledge of basic physics including concepts of energy, electric power, magnetic fields, and properties of x-ray, to understand the operation of the equipment.
iv. Knowledge and skill in positioning of patients for a wide variety of highly complex imaging (CT, MRI, IR, ultrasound, mammography) studies.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10.
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
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.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
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 VA Black Hills Health Care System
113 Comanche Road
Fort Meade, SD 57741
US
- Name: Adam Abbott
- Phone: 612-629-7067
- Email: [email protected]
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