Career Center

Summary

Duties of this position at the Perry Veterans Affairs Clinic to include but to limited to perform procedures and examinations in hospitals or clinics under the direction of radiologists and other medical officers to locate injuries - foreign bodies - pathological conditions - or lesions within the body. They prepare and administer contrast media and medications in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

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:

• a
• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g.) b
• 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
• [In modalities that require advanced certification - to support their continued development - technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist.] c
• Education
• Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the 2 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).] [NOTE: Assignment to the clinical program director requires meeting JRCERT minimum educational standards as noted in the assignment description
• Credentialing Standards
• Public Law 97-35 - the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 - requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel
• Essentially - they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• English Language Proficiency
• DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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 Requirements: a
• Creditable Experience: (1) Knowledge of Current Radiologic Technology Practice
• To be creditable - experience must have demonstrated possession of the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics (also referred to as clinical competencies) associated with current radiologic technology practice
• This may have been evidenced by the equivalent of one year of active practice - which is paid or non-paid employment as a DRT as defined by ARRT
• (2) Quality of Experience
• Experience is only creditable if it was earned after completion of the basic certification requirements identified in paragraph 2b above
• Experience as a graduate DRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a DRT and subsequently passed the certification examination
• (3) Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a DRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a DRT would receive one week of full- time credit for each two weeks of half-time work
• b
• Specialized Assignments
• Specialized areas of radiologic technology include general diagnostic radiologic technology (R) - bone densitometry (BD) - mammography (M) - diagnostic ultrasound (S) - computed tomography (CT) - magnetic resonance imaging (MR) - [interventional radiologic technology (IR)] - quality management (QM) - [picture archival communication system (PACS) technologist - MRI safety officer (MRSO) - imaging administrator - clinical program director - and clinical instructor.] General Radiologic Technology (R)
• DRTs perform procedures and examinations in hospitals 4 or clinics under the direction of radiologists and other medical officers
• The objective of the examinations and procedures is to produce radiographic studies that are used in medical diagnosis and interpreted by medical officers to locate injuries - foreign bodies - pathological conditions - or lesions within the body
• They prepare and administer contrast media and medications in accordance with State and Federal regulations
• All DRTs must be knowledgeable in computerized [and digital radiography (CR/DR) -] and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS)
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of 1 year experience in Radiology Department/hospital setting
• Knowledge of routine Radiologic procedures
• Member requires minimum current ARRT Certification
• current BLS credentials
• GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist GS-8: (1) Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• (2) Assignments
• Employees at this grade level serve as staff DRTs at the full performance level
• Candidates at this grade level must be qualified to independently provide services in specialized areas of radiologic technology and/or general radiologic technology services with only occasional oversight or direction for highly complex issues
• The candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Ability to check system for operation and assess acceptable performance based on established guidelines
• Knowledge of calibration parameters and the ability to make adjustments as needed
• Knowledge of patient's clinical record - diagnosis - and laboratory results
• Ability to monitor patient's physiologic changes during the procedure and keep the radiologist informed
• Skill in using tact - diplomacy - and courtesy in dealings with the customer base - patients - staff - family - visitors - and volunteers
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology - and cross-sectional anatomy - recognizing unusual images - and determining proper positioning to best demonstrate areas of interest
• 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-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08 Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work includes: 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.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Major duties may include - but not limited to: Employees at this grade level are to be qualified to provide diagnostic radiologic services
• Performs technical work in support of diagnostic radiology under the direction of a physician
• Operates radiology equipment - both mobile and fixed as part of the diagnostic plan for patients
• Supports radiologist or other medical officers to produce radiographic studies used to diagnose medical conditions
• Functions: Receives requests or instructions for procedures
• Interprets requests or instructions from the radiologist or other medical officers
• Receives assignments for a variety of difficult examinations
• Independently interprets and carries out the requests made by physicians
• Supervision is often administrative and employee must contact radiologist or higher graded expert in the department or - in some cases - at another location
• Employee understands and carries out the requests made by physicians or seeks assistance of the supervisor or a higher graded technologist when an uncommon - unique - or new procedure is required
• Secures the confidence and cooperation of patients during procedures
• Explains procedures - positions patients for desired results - and cushions and shields patients as appropriate
• Varies procedures or positions to adjust for patients' medical conditions or physical limitations
• Independently explains procedures and positions patients for very difficult procedures
• Determines technical factors - sets controls - and operates equipment
• Maintains examination supplies
• Independently makes routine radiographic examinations of the head - trunk - and extremities of patients for diagnosis of illness or injuries
• Operates computerized and conventional radiography equipment
• Determines technical factors (i.e
• calculates the correct exposure factors of time - distance - kilovoltage - and milliamperage) - sets controls - and operates equipment ensuring that the portion of the body specified receives the correct calculated exposure
• Selects and sets technical factors for very difficult radiographic examinations
• Sets up and adjusts accessory equipment required and makes exposures necessary for requested procedures
• Ensures ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is applied
• Uses appropriate radiation shielding for all patients - when possible
• Schedules patients for examinations
• Registers patients for examinations and updates status as necessary
• Performs clerical and file room duties as they relate to patient care within the Radiology section
• Maintains electronic documentation of patients and procedures used
• Reviews new developments in the field of Radiography and recommends to the head of the unit adoption of those which would improve the operations of the Radiology section
• Cleans equipment and area after use
• Performs routine maintenance and recognizes and reports malfunctioning equipment to ensure repair
• Performs picture archival duties
• The technologist captures computerized radiographs - applies an algorithm - configures the image and verifies patient information before transmitting them to the picture archive system (PACS)
• This procedure requires the technologist to have a general knowledge of computer operations
• Image manipulation and transmission is critical in computerized radiography
• lost data can only be recaptured by repeating the radiograph
• The technologist may be required to participate in \"on-call\" or \"standby\" to provide the necessary coverage to perform radiology exams after hours or on weekends
• The technologist may be required to travel to the Dublin station for training if necessary
• The technologist performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-04:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 56301F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized