Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Qualifications 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: DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program - evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree - accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) is required
• NOTE: A transcript from accredited colleges - universities - schools - or institutions must be submitted with your application
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT) - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - or Mammography (M) duties performed independently - as applicable
• Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent can operate independently and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination
• NOTE: You must submit a copy of your certification(s) with your application
• 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: The following is used to determine the grade requirements for an Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (IR/Vascular/X-Ray) at the GS-10 grade level
• Interventional Radiography (IR) Technologists working in this special assignment may function as vascular interventional (VI) - cardiac interventional (CI) and/or cardiovascular-interventional (CV) technologists which use specialized equipment to perform diagnostic angiographic procedures and complex vascular and nonvascular interventional and therapeutic procedures
• This specialty requires additional knowledge of vascular systems and major vessel anatomy
• The technologist must be knowledgeable in the specialized equipment employed for digital subtraction systems and interventional procedures
• The technologist administers contrast media under the supervision of the staff radiologist and confers with the radiologist to establish requirements regarding contrast agents - vital signs - medications - and physiologic monitoring to perform procedures
• IR technologist must be knowledgeable in digital imagining and PACS
• Experience: Candidates must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) - directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the following clinical competencies: Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record - significant others - and health care providers
• Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography
• Knowledge of physical assessment - aseptic techniques - intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions
• Knowledge of pre-procedural - procedural - and post-procedural care of patients
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience listed above - the candidate must demonstrate all the following technical KSAs: Knowledge of radiation protection standards - devices and techniques - including concepts of accumulated dosage - dose monitoring - and genetic changes
• Ability to utilize advanced imaging software that supports complex imaging programs and recognize changes in equipment and procedures that might result in increased exposures - and ability to recommend methods to prevent such exposures
• Knowledge of basic physics including concepts of energy - electric power - magnetic fields - and properties of x-ray - to understand the operation of the equipment
• Knowledge and skill in positioning of patients for a wide variety of highly complex imaging (CT - MRI - IR - ultrasound - mammography) studies
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 10
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include: Heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over
• moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• pushing up to 4 hours
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers - good dexterity (both hands required)
• prolonged walking - prolonged standing
• repeated bending
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• speed in working
• and emotional stability
• Must have the ability to stand and work while wearing a lead apron for possibly long periods of time
• ****OCHCO Bulletin Subject: Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages - dated October 1 - 2024
• Although hybrid title 38 occupations follow title 5 Veterans' preference rules - as required by the Merit Systems Protection Board (Graves v
• VA - 117 M.S.P.R
• 697 (2012)) - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to hybrid title 38 occupations among those reported to have the largest staffing shortages
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• These assignments require specialized training and experience
• Employees must have advanced knowledge of complex equipment mid specific attention to detail
• Technologist performs/will perform highly specialized and complex examinations in these areas 100% of their time in cardiovascular-interventional
• The cardiovascular-interventional specialty requires additional knowledge of vascular systems nd major vessel anatomy
• The technologist independently reviews each patient requisition to assure that the patient history and area of chief complaint is consistent with the exam requested
• If a discrepancy exists - the technologist will make an independent determination
• take the appropriate corrective action - including contacting the referring physician or nurse manager if necessary
• The technologist will need to interview the patient to confirm clinical information - if some information indicates a contraindication the technologist will consult with the cardiologist - radiologist - or surgeon If the physician is not available the technologist may need to contact the clinician that made the request for clarification
• The technologist verifies the patients identity using the JCAHO recommended method
• The technologist verifies the patients demographic information to be sure it is the correct and compatible with the DICOM format
• Assists in fluoroscopy with the internal and external placement of cardiac pacemaker The Incumbent is solely responsible for all technical radiographic factors used
• The Technologist assists the cardiologist - the nurses and cardiovascular technicians by performing other ancillary tasks in order to function as an integral member of the cardiac catheterization team