Medical Instrument Technician; Echocardiography

Overview

The incumbent works in the Medicine Specialty Service - Cardiology Section - of the Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The sonographer has intimate knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function. Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant conditions from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler.

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:

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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-9
  
  Experience:
  
  You must have one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level - GS-8 - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level - positions at this grade may be lead - supervisory - or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments
• Echocardiography technicians at the GS-8 level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
• They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
• They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient - presence of prosthesis or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts
• They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound
• GS-8 Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs):
  In addition to the one year of experience - you must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs at the full performance level:
  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 imaging
• Knowledge of normal echo cardiographic 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
• And GS-9 Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs):
  In addition - the candidate must be able to demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
  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
• * Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• * Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• * Ability to manage and supervise employees
  * 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

• Echocardiography technicians incorporate the causes and results of various symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
• They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in…