Med Instrument Tech (Echocardiography)

SummaryVISN 10 CARDIO-VET Network (Cardio Hub and Spoke Network) is seeking three Medical Instrument Technicians (Cardiac Echocardiography) to join our team. There are two vacancies servicing Saginaw - Gaylord - Indian River - Clare - Grayling - and Traverse City. Additionally - there is one vacancy servicing Battle Creek - Muskegon - Benton Harbor - Lansing - and Grand Rapids. This unique position offers the opportunity to serve within the VISN 10 CARDIO-VET Network (Cardio Hub and Spoke Network).QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducation: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupationEducation may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levelsSee the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutionsLicensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupationhowever - it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge - skills - and abilitiesFor certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments - specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under ""Titles and Certification/Registrations""For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirableTraining which does not result in official certification does not meet this definitionMay 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-6 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 filledIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels2Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle3Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained4Ability 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 procedures5Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedureCertificationBasic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirableGS-7 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 filledIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with color flow and some Doppler28 2Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems - i.e. - valvular dysfunction - myocardial wall kinesia - effusions - endocardial lesions - etc3Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms4Ability 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 proceduresCertificationBasic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirableGS-8 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 filledThis would be experience which provided the overall knowledge - skills - and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual casesIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display - and color flow Doppler imaging2Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases3Ability 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 - etc4Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic - Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography - (invasive) stress echocardiography - and transesophageal echocardiography5Ability 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 findingsCertificationBasic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirablePreferred Experience: Echocardiography Technicians: operate 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 wallRegistration is offered 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 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-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: 1This position requires sitting - walking - standing - stretching - bending and carrying light to medium weight itemsPositions may be maintained for short periods of time2Exposure to meeting with employees and external contacts who may be angry and/or upsetMay observe patient suffering3Ability to read printed material - such as reports and Standard Operating Procedures4Ability to view information on computer screens and in EHR orders5Ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely.DutiesDuties include but are not limited to: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display - and color flow Doppler imagingKnowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseasesAbility 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 - etcAbility to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic - Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography - (invasive) stress echocardiography - and transesophageal echocardiographyAbility 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 findingsIndependently works with the Imaging Capture SystemUses the Modality Work list and Clinical Procedures to link the clinic visit and results to the consultCompletes encounters on all ECHOs performed - using the correct CPT codes - diagnosis - Service connection status and other field as requiredWork Schedule: Monday through Friday - variable 10-hour shiftsActual tour will vary on location and drive timeCompressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 93872-0 - 93871-0 - 93870-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized