Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Summary

General Description of Assigned Duties:

The Advanced Medical Instrument Technician (MIT), Echocardiogram, serves as a specialized technician with focused cardiac knowledge above full performance level in the Hospital and Specialty Care Division of the VA Portland Health Care System. The GS-9 MIT performs all duties related to the support of echocardiography services in the facility. The GS-9 MIT is required to perform a full range of complex cardiac ultrasound procedures.

Duties

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Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

• 1. The GS-9 MIT is required to meet all the knowledge, skills and abilities of the GS-8 level technician, and to have approximately one year of experience at that level.
• 2. The GS-9 MIT is responsible for all of the technical quality of work performed in the lab. The incumbent is responsible for insuring procedures are accomplished within the established time frames and are coordinated with the other sections of the hospital. The GS-9 MIT must be able to instruct lower level technicians in established work standards by clearly defining specific tasks and job technique requirements, and provide on the job training.
• 3. The GS-9 MIT provides scheduling for both inpatients and outpatients and ensures that patients requiring emergent or critical procedures are triaged appropriately. The GS-9 MIT appropriately directs lower level technicians regarding triage of emergent or critical procedures.
• 4. The GS-9 MIT ensures procedures performed are appropriate and necessary based upon the information provided. This is accomplished independently while complying to established criteria and/or special education.
• 5. The GS-9 MIT will possess specialized knowledge, skills and abilities in order to provide expert guidance to lower level technicians regarding special requests, unusual findings, emergent evaluations or imaging difficulties.
• In both the inpatient and outpatient setting, the incumbent receives the patient and explains the purpose and methodology of the procedures in a manner that the patient will understand. The incumbent independently positions the patient in accordance to any patient limitations and obtains diagnostic ultrasound images of the heart and all required measurements.
• 7. The incumbent performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations, including but not limited to:
• a. Transthoracic Echo
• i. Educates and prepares patient for transthoracic echo exam
• ii. Acquires high quality, diagnostic images and all required measurements
• iii. Uses ultrasound acquisition program to display images for side by side analysis and interpretation by physician.
• b. Stress Echo
• i. Educates and prepares patient for stress echo exam
• ii. Acquires high quality images during and after exercise stress protocol and as directed by the physician
• iii. Uses ultrasound acquisition program to display test and post exercise images for side by side analysis and interpretation by physician
• c. Transesophageal Echo
• i. Prepares room and assembles necessary supplies and equipment
• ii. Educates and prepares patient for transesophageal exam
• iii. Ability to assist in all areas of the transesophageal exam including obtaining, monitoring and documenting vital signs and suctioning. Ability to assist as needed to maintain patient comfort and safety.
• iv. Maximizes image quality and appropriate image acquisition while a physician manipulates the probe.
• v. Uses ultrasound acquisition program to display images for side by side analysis and interpretation by physician.
• vi. Ability to follow strict guidelines regarding probe pre-cleaning and sterilization
• d. Contrast Echocardiograms
• i. Educates and prepares patient for echo contrast examination
• ii. Ensures proper IV placement for optimal exam quality
• iii. Ensures proper documentation is in place regarding contraindications
• iv. Coordinates with provider and patient to ensure the acquisition of high quality, diagnostic images
• e. Agitated Saline Bubble Echocardiograms
• i. Educates and prepares patient for bubble study exam
• ii. Ensures proper IV placement for optimal exam quality
• iii. Coordinates with provider and patient to ensure the acquisition of high quality, diagnostic images
• 8. The incumbent is able to make routine and non-routine dimensional and Doppler measurements from digitized images per established protocol and industry standards. The incumbent will provide guidance to lower level technicians regarding non-routine measurements.
• The incumbent is proficient with common computer programs and specialized cardiac ultrasound exam analyzing systems to prepare study for report generation and interpretation
• The incumbent accurately maintains procedure and patient records following strict guidelines regarding confidentiality. The incumbent will provide these records and reports to the supervisory level as requested.

Work Schedule: M/T/TH/F 0530-1600

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 0000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  
  

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.)
  
  

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 level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments

• Experience. At least 1 year of 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
• 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.
• 1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques such as SAECG, ETT, Tilt table monitoring, electrophysiology monitoring, and event monitoring in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to develop analysis interpretation formats, and to receive inquiries concerning results
• *2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• *4. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.
• *5. Ability to manage and supervise employees.
  

Preferred Experience: Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) credential with CCI, or Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) credential with ARDMS preferred. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.



Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute

Education



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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