Summary

The incumbent works in the Cardiology Section of the Primary/Specialty service of the VAMC. The sonographer has good overall knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology as related to cardiovascular function. It does require travel of up to 25% to the other VA locations - and the following Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's).

Qualifications

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 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
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the criteria discussed in the applicable headings - or that defined in the appendices - must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-4 Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant - practical nursing - or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• -OR- Education: Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-5 Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
• -OR- Education: Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• GS-6 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels
• Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle
• Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained
• Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized - routine procedures
• Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure
• GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge - skills - and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler
• Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems - i.e. - valvular dysfunction - myocardial wall kinesia - effusions - endocardial lesions - etc
• Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms
• Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex - but standardized procedures
• GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge - skills - and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display - and colorflow 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
• 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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-4 up to GS-8.

Duties

• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification
• All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge - Skill - and Ability (KSA) on a separate document
• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Performs cardiac ultrasound examinations and quantifies observed abnormalities - including complex calculations of valve areas and alterations in function - and ejection fraction with assistance as necessary
• Confers with supervising MIT Echocardiography tech to resolve any issues and provide quality imaging
• Measures pulmonary artery pressures - valve areas - cardiac output - cardiac chambers - gradients and flow assessments
• Requires comprehensive knowledge of cardiac anatomy and disease states - and the ability to skillfully use all echo modalities with assist as indicated
• Makes initial interpretation of data to perform complete exams and alerts the physician if necessary
• Enters the data in the cardiac echo reporting system
• Maintains records of patients' examinations and provides input for the scheduling of exams as necessary
• Keeps current on continuing education and CPR
• Reviews new developments in the field and participates in making recommendations on changes that would improve operation of the section
• Cleans - maintains - prepares - and calibrates the transesophageal echo probes and echo machines
• Observes hospital policies related to isolation and universal body fluid precautions
• Assist the physician during transesophageal echoes in Cardiology and in the Operating Room as requested
• Assists during echo-guided pericardiocentesis
• This procedure and presence in surgery requires knowledge of sterile technique
• Makes multiple simultaneous changes in settings and adjustments in operation of equipment during an exam to ensure accurate results
• On the basis of ultrasound findings - individualizes exam with assistance as necessary
• Requires travel of up to 25% to the other VA locations Work Schedule: 0700 am to 1530pm- Monday-Friday Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized