Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S Citizens.

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Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position:

• The Incumbent advises attending(s) or referring physician of significant abnormalities that would require their immediate attention and visualization while the patient is undergoing examination.
• Performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations including but not limited to: Transthoracic Echo; Stress Echo; Transesophageal Echo; Contrast Echocardiograms; Agitated Saline Bubble Echocardiogram.
• 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 echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
• Performs 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.
• Performs 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.
• Appropriately operate a full range of diagnostic equipment required to perform an array of imaging procedures and that such equipment is maintained in good operating condition.
• Pre-operative checks, arranging for repairs, cleaning and calibrating, ensuring preventative maintenance is performed as per manufacturers recommendation.
• Independently performs M-Mode and 2-D Transesophageal and Echocardiograms, and under the supervision of the physician in charge performs conventional and color-flow Doppler studies.
• Provides high quality and excellent tracings with technical ability in gain settings, clarity of structures and transducer angulation in order to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patient medical disorders.
• Makes multiple simultaneous settings and adjustments in operation of equipment to insure accurate results.
• On the basis of radiologic findings, determines necessary procedures to yield definitive diagnostic findings.
• Is proficient with common computer programs and specialized cardiac ultrasound exam analyzing systems to prepare study for report generation and interpretation.
• Compiles information/data after each procedure and records findings to ensure current status is available as needed for physicians and providers.
• Maintains adequate supplies so that examinations are not delayed due to the lack of necessary equipment and supplies.
• Develops and maintains prep procedures so that patients understand the proper preparations for echocardiographic examinations.
• Explains examinations to be performed to the patients so that an understanding of the purpose of the study as well as any requirements of the patients is thoroughly understood. This is done so that an adequate echocardiogram study may be obtained in an effort to get diagnostic examinations for the purpose of treatment and diagnosis of disorders.
• Operates multi-image camera for the purpose of making hard copy records of the examination so that future examinations may be compared.
• Performs weekly testing of equipment using test tools, test check lists etc. for the purpose of assuring peak performance of the equipment. Maintains sterile environment, ensuring new sterile equipment is utilized, returned to central sterile processing.
• Maintains sterile environment of treatment and examination areas including ensuring that probes are sterilized.
• Additional duties as assigned

Work Schedule: 8am to 4:30pm M-F.
Telework: This is not a Telework position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21U78-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 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:

a. Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
b. Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
c. 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".
For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.
d. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

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.

Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position/specialty to be filled.

Part-time Experience. Part time experience is credited according to its relationship to a full time work week. For example, an individual employed 20 hours per week, or on a ½ time basis would receive one work week credit for each two weeks of service.

GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician Echocardiography
Grade Determination

• Creditable Experience - Knowledge of Current Medical Instrument Technician Practices.

At least 1 year comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases.

Demonstrate Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.
1. 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.
2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of
cardiovascular diseases.
3. 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.
4. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic,
Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal
echocardiography.
5. 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.

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Echocardiography technicians at this 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.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 8
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Preferred Experience:

1. Ability to perform state-of-art transthoracic, transesophageal and stress echocardiograms as per current American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.
2. Studies will be performed in outpatient and inpatient settings.
3. Certification (RCS/RDCS) is preferred but not required.

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.