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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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). 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 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 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. 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). 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 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). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR). This specialty modality requires additional knowledge of superconducting magnets, the physics of superconducting magnets, and how they relate to the human anatomy in medical imaging. The technologist must be educated in the safety factors governing a magnetic environment that patients, visitors, and equipment enter. The practitioner must have specialized knowledge of cross sectional anatomy and how it relates to the soft tissues and vessels of the human body. The technologist must also have specialized knowledge in the radio-frequency surface coils required for each specific anatomical area to be imaged. This assignment may also perform basic magnetic resonance safety program duties. Technologists must be knowledgeable in contrast media, power injectors, and PACS. DRT assignments that include performance of independent duties in this subspecialty require advanced ARRT (MR) certification. Grade Determinations: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist, GS-9 Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. DRTs at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist. Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level, clinical instruction, and basic QM type duties within the program. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): *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. References: VA Handbook 5005 PART II APPENDIX G25 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. ["The incumbent independently performs all MRI scans (45 %), all general radiology exams including fluoroscopy and DEXA scans (45 %) and all daily QC (10%) for general radiology and CT as assigned by the supervisory DRT. The incumbent operates as a Diagnostic Radiographic Technologist (DRT) responsible for the performance and operation of diagnostic radiographic imaging equipment to produce radiographs of anatomy using ionizing radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The DRT performs general radiography and fluoroscopy. As a diagnostic technologist under the direction of the Chief DRT, the incumbent positions the patient on the radiographic examination table and moves the radiographic x-ray tube over the patient and sets technical exposure factors based on time, distance and patient body habitus to obtain optimum radiographic images. The incumbent operates independently without direct supervision as the technologist responsible for the performance and coordination of all diagnostic radiology examinations. These exams are performed with and without the use of contrast materials. The purpose of these exams is to achieve diagnostic studies so that proper diagnosis and treatment may be effectuated. The Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) interacts with patients effectively, providing quality patient care with useful diagnostic information for proper diagnosis and treatment. The DRT performs imaging exams on inpatients, outpatients, routine patients, stat patients and on patients in the Emergency Department and in the OR in any facility operated by the VA New York Harbor Health Care System. The employee rotates through all campuses of the VANYHCS including, but not limited to, Brooklyn, Manhattan and St. Albans. Incumbent is flexible and may change tour of duty to meet Radiology Service patient care needs. Tours of duty may be changed with advance notice. Incumbent is responsible for providing on call coverage as required for the facility based upon patient care needs. The on-call services will be all inclusive for MRI and general radiology including fluoroscopy and DEXA scans. The incumbent covers in house off tour rotations, weekends, and holidays where most of the work consists of general radiology and MRI procedures. On days when units are scheduled for routine maintenance, the incumbent will perform procedures in other modalities including general radiology, operating room procedures and fluoroscopic procedures. The incumbent is assigned to the diagnostic modalities of the Radiology Service. He/she perform routine general diagnostic studies using general radiographic, fluoroscopic, and or digital imaging equipment producing ionizing radiation. Incumbent technologist practices ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) protocol in applying radiographic techniques. Patients are positioned utilizing optimal patient safety guidelines. Studies are processed electronically utilizing computerized (CR) or digital (DR) image reader. Images are checked for correctness, quality and then sent to the Picture Archive Communications System (PACS) for interpretation by the radiologist. The incumbent works as a member of the Radiology team to perform the following functions and studies.\nFunctional Areas of the position include but are not limited to: Scanning of Patient Examination Documents Radiographs Fluoroscopy Operating Room/Portables/Emergency Room Magnetic Resonance Imaging DEXA Quality Control Daily Patient Care Responsibilities Patient Reception & Registration Patient Examination Clinician Guided Procedures Infection Control Image Processing/Quality Control Editing Exam and Archiving Patient Confidentiality Protocols & Policies Equipment Quality Assurance Organizational Stewardship Continuing Education & Mandatory Training Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Friday to Tuesday, 10 am to 6:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 21T34-A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]