Summary

The Echocardiograph Technician incorporates the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination. Echocardiograph Technician changes and develops sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient - presence of prosthesis or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts.

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
• 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
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• 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 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 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 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: 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
• (a) Experience: At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level - 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (b) 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
• * Ability to manage and supervise employees
• * Ability to provide - or provide for - staff development and training
• (c) Certification:
• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) is highly 30 desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable
• (d) Assignment: 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
• (e) Additional Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 1
• Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display - and color flow Doppler imaging
• 2
• Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases
• 3
• 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
• 4
• Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic - Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography - (invasive) stress echocardiography - and transesophageal echocardiography
• 5
• 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
• 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-9. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Performs all Cardiac Ultrasound examinations ranging from the routine to the highly specialized
• Performance of the examination requires proper alignment and position of the patient
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam
• Independently performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations including but not limited to: Transthoracic Echo
• Stress Echo
• Transesophageal Echo
• Dobutamine studies to provoke a higher velocity in aortic valve stenosis to determine the need for valve replacement
• Performs diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - 2-D - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display and color flow Doppler imaging
• Knows and understand the principles of ultrasound and the highly specialized ultrasound equipment to approve the acceptability or reject ability of each scan
• This includes preparation and supplies - scanning techniques - Time Compensated Gain (TCG) - zoom or expansion - hard copy - picture-oriented examination - organ-oriented examination and initial interpretation of the examination
• Participates in the training of physicians - residents - students - and other sonographers - current and new staff - so that these individuals may acquire an understanding of the principles of ultrasound - how it relates to other diagnostic exams - and the proper acquisition of ultrasound studies
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 09589F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized