Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Summary

The incumbent works in the Cardiology Section of Specialty Care Service at the New Mexico Veteran Affairs Heath Care System (NMVAHCS). The Medical Instrument Technician-Echocardiography operates diagnostic equipment to graphically record the position and motion of the heart walls or the internal structure of the heart and neighboring tissue by the echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall.

Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants

Duties

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Duties include but limited to :

• Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and exam procedures and techniques.
• Use independent judgment in applying knowledge of clinical cardiology and ultrasound, and Doppler principles.
• Use problem-solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure that it is comprehensive and accurate.
• Records and does preliminary interpretation of the exam and presents information and or possible diagnosis to the interpreting physician.
• Performs real-time 3D, 2D, M-Mode, continuous and pulse wave, color, and tissue Doppler exams.
• Performs transthoracic examinations and stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals.
• Includes 3D imaging in all studies with the exception of studies lacking appropriate image quality to obtain suitable data.
• Notifies the Attending physician with preliminary echocardiograph results that may need immediate interpretation and intervention.
• Receives patients, explains the procedure, and performs the appropriate complete exam.
• Sets, calibrates, and operates the ultrasound equipment.
• Performs routine maintenance on all Echo Lab equipment at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.
• Shares responsibility for coordinating emergency and preventive maintenance of the lab equipment.
• Maintains cleanliness of the work environment between studies and at the end of the workday.
• Provides training for Cardiology Fellows in performing studies and preliminary interpretation of echo exams. Incumbent
• Teaches echo-Doppler principles and procedures, theory of operations and theory of interpretation of results to trainee echocardiographic technicians, nursing students, nurses, medical students, residents, and fellows (especially cardiology fellows).
• Responds to emergency requests for echo-Doppler studies within 30 minutes during normal working hours.
• Checks the appropriateness of such emergency requests with a cardiology fellow or cardiology attending.
• Maintains skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and actively assists in CPR should the need arise.
• Attends regional and national professional meetings at the request or approval of the Echocardiography Lab Medical Director and / or Cardiology Nurse Manager to keep current on new technical and practical developments in the echo-Doppler field.
• Evaluates new products and equipment and makes recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations in the Echo Lab.
• Start intravenous access on patients and perform saline contrast studies and cavity enhancing contrast studies with the assistance of the cardiology nurse or fellow upon request / order by a physician.
• Assist the physicians involved in performing transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examinations.
• Assist with monitoring the patient during a TEE study by monitoring patient's blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and O2 saturation.
• Performs suctioning of the patient if necessary.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday, 8 : 00am - 4 : 30pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Authorized

Relocation Incentive : Not Authorized

Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider :

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements :

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

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9

Physical Requirements : The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, and occasional crouching or kneeling. Moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the department and facility. Considerable manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are required. This includes continuous observation of a computer screen.

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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