Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

SummaryThe Medical Instrument Technologist (MIT) coordinates a variety of technical ultrasound procedures that require independent judgment - ingenuity - and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic (outpatients) or on the wards-sometimes portable exams (ICU - ER and/or surgery).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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge - Skill - and Ability (KSA) on a separate document.Basic RequirementsCitizenship: 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.) Education: 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 definitionGrandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation 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 licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupationPhysical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this partExperience: At least 1 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 levelThis would be specialized experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of diagnostic ultrasonography services: Grade Determinations:GS-9 Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body - including - but not limited to - the abdomen - pelvis - transvaginal - chest - small parts - thyroid - breast - and scrotumAbility to perform vascular studies such as vertebral - renal artery - aortic aneurysm - portal-systemic shunts - etcAbility to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location - depth - and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampledAbility to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirationsIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: KSAs 1 - 2 - and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this levelKSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignmentKnowledge 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 diagnostic ultrasonography*Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirementsAbility 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 trainingCertification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirableBasic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirablePreferred Experience: One year ultrasound experience preferredAbdomen - OB/GYN and/or Vascular registry preferredReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this positionQuestions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.DutiesThis is an Open Continuous Announcement and can close sooner than the date postedTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: The MIT coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment - ingenuity - and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic or on the inpatient unitKnows and understands the principles of ultrasound and the highly specialized equipment well enough to essentially approve the acceptability or rejectability of each scanControls technical factors on ultrasound unit - which will affect time - gain - amplitude - velocity - frequency - attenuation - absorption - reflection - scattering - refraction and diffractionSelects between non-focused - fixed-focus - linear phased array and annular phased arraySets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the examPerformance of the examination requires proper alignment and position of the patientReceives and identifies patients - explains methods of procedures - assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs - carts and tables - positions the patient and performs examinations requestedEvaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate themPerforms ultrasonography studies - records as well as prepares the processed media for interpretation by the Staff RadiologistMaintains records of patients in the Vista radiology packageGives input to the schedule and prepares patients for exams and explains procedures to patients while performing the studiesObtains pertinent diagnostic examinations for the physician - which may be necessary for correlation between the ultrasound scan and the clinical historyPerforms diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body - including - but not limited to - the abdomen - pelvis - transvaginal - chest - small parts - thyroid - breast - and scrotumAssists radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location - depth - and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampledAssists in surgical procedures and fluid aspirationsThis requires performance and knowledge of sterile technique and strict enforcementDifferentiates artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes electronic equipment limitationsRecognizes a diagnostic scan and consults with the Staff Radiologist to determine the proper diagnosisHas knowledge of Joint Commission and other regulatory requirementsCommunicates effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levelsPerforms other duties as assigned within scope of MIT technologistWork Schedule: Tour of duty 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized