The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) functions as a member of the Cardiology multidisciplinary team and works in the Cardiology/Echo Section of the VA Medical Center. 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: 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.) 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. 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 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. 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. Grade Determinations: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 (GS-8), 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 and includes: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-Mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler special display, and color flow Doppler imaging. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic 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, 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. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending,, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. ["**If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply to CBST-12593916-24-LS This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until March 31, 2025. Duties performed include but are not limited to the following: Identifies and record anomalies of the heart indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant conditions from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler; Incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination; Change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility, variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient presence of prosthetics or foreign objects, and ultrasonic response of different body parts; Produce diagnostic quality images and doppler and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound; Provides training and supervision of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques; Assists in performing Treadmill stress tests when available; Assists with immediate patient management in cases of emergent echocardiographic findings; Assists with immediate patient management in cardiology clinic when required per local site policies; Teaches basic techniques to cardiology residents, fellows, and students assigned to the laboratory; Performs preventive maintenance of the equipment and coordinates service with biomedical engineering including help with researching/obtaining quotes for parts/services needed. Assists in writing Policies, Procedures and Protocol development. Assists in performance of stress echocardiograms. Assists in performance of contrast echocardiograms- Agitated sterile saline, contrast agents. Ability of assisting cardiologist in performing transesophageal echocardiograms. Performs Holters/Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring when available. Assists in maintaining and ordering adequate supplies used in the Echo department. Assist Medical Service with all cardiology clinic consultations tracking to include inpatients and outpatients consults. Any other duty as assigned by the Cath Lab Supervisors and/or Chief of Cardiology. Assists in the transport of patients when transportation services are not available Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00612-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
