Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1) Current permanent VA Portland Healthcare System Employees. 2) Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) Employees.

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Functions/Scope of Practice:
The incumbent is responsible for the technical quality of their own work, as well as the work performed by lower-level staff in the department. They will mentor, assist, and provide expert training in department functions, including but not limited to established work standards, examination techniques, urgent evaluation response, unusual findings, challenging or difficult situations, SOPs and all regulatory expectations. The incumbent arranges scheduling for both inpatients and outpatients, and ensures all exams are accomplished within the established time frames. They will appropriately triage all critical exam requests, direct tasks to facilitate urgent completion and processing of exam and alert the appropriate personnel to available results and reports if necessary. The incumbent possesses specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities to obtain diagnostic information in unusual, difficult, and challenging situations. They will utilize all safety equipment available when needed, including PPE and all safe patient handling and mobility aids , such as ceilings lifts and slide mats. The incumbent will ask for assistance or stop until assistance is available if the situation is unsafe. The incumbent clearly explains the purpose and method of the procedure in a manner that the patient understands and positions the patient safely in accordance with patient limitations. The incumbent performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations, including but not limited to transthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram, exercise stress echocardiogram, pharmacological stress echocardiogram, ultrasound enhancing agent echocardiogram and agitated bubble study echocardiogram.

For every exam, the incumbent will:

1. Prepare room and assemble all necessary supplies and equipment
2. Acquire high quality, diagnostic images and all required measurements
3. Expertly apply all imaging modalities, including but not limited to 2D, 3D, PWD, CWD, non-imaging Doppler, Strain, and TDI
4. Maintain strict compliance with all environmental guidelines including equipment, reusable medical equipment, supply, and room maintenance and cleanliness.

For certain exams, the incumbent performs, and mentors/trains others to:

1. Obtain, monitor, and document patient vital signs
2. Perform procedural time-outs
3. Discuss and document contraindications for echo enhancing agents or agitated saline bubble studies
4. Obtain and maintain proper
5. access for agitated saline and/or echo enhancing agent injection
6. Administer agitated saline and ultrasound enhancing agents based on physician orders and all established guidelines, SOPs and protocols
7. Properly report and document any adverse effects caused by agitated saline or echo enhancing agent injection

Work Schedule: Monday,Tuesday,Thursday,Friday, 5:30am-4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For 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".
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography), GS-9

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

• Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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.

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.

Preferred Experience: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer or Registered Cardiac Sonographer is strongly preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.