Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

Job Title

List the major duties and responsibilities of the position.

Prepare exam room and ultrasound equipment to conduct routine and complex sonography examinations in accordance with infections disease, sterilization, and patient safety protocols, policies, and procedures. Ensure room is properly stocked and ready each day.

Assume responsibility for the safety of the patient during the sonographic examination.

Prepare requisitions and schedule for the next day.

Review patient medical history and supporting clinical information.

Utilizes cross sectional and structural anatomy and physiology to perform examinations. Prepares for examinations by reviewing patient history, prior imaging studies i.e.: CT, MRI, and prior ultrasound.

Review exam orders for accuracy in relation to reason for study and patient history. Communicate with ordering provider and/or Radiologist for corrections.

Evaluate any contraindications, insufficient patient preparation, and the patient's inability or unwillingness to tolerate the examination and associated procedures.

Communicate with the patient in a manner appropriate to the patient's ability to understand, explains procedure and answers question in regard to the procedure.

Use proper patient positioning tools, devices, equipment adjustment, and ergonomically correct scanning techniques to ensure patient comfort and safety, and to prevent compromised data acquisition and musculoskeletal injury to the sonographer.

Applies protocols to examinations. Utilizes patient position, scan plane, transducer type, measurements, and Doppler to acquire diagnostic images. Labels images correctly. Compensates for imaging artifacts.

Perform the diagnostic medical sonography examination ordered by the physician in accordance with professional and facility protocols, which includes but not limited to abdomen, Doppler examination of intra- abdominal blood vessels, pelvis, superficial structures, soft tissue, scrotum, and head/neck within the department or as a portable.

Provides diagnostic images by recognizing normal anatomy versus pathology for all examination types including disease processes.

Assists the radiologist with procedures such as biopsies, paracentesis and thoracentesis utilizing sterile technique. Determine depth, location and required needle angle for procedure.

Confers and works under direction of the radiologist/physician when performing complex examinations such as renal cyst punctures, organ biopsies and fluid aspiration, as well as intraoperative procedures. Apply independent, professional, ethical judgment, and critical thinking to safely perform diagnostic sonography procedures.

Apply independent judgment during the sonography examination to ensure that appropriate anatomical, pathological, and clinical conditions are accurately captured in the examination images.

Communicate with fellow sonographers regarding complex exams and give/receive guidance or assistance obtaining difficult images.

Confers and works closely with the radiologist regarding anatomy, pathology and patient history/condition. Receives guidance from Radiologist on complex studies and/or exams with unusual/unique circumstances.

Notifies Radiologist/ Physician of significant findings which may require immediate or emergent medical attention. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and prioritizes cases accordingly.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66

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 #: 635-51641-A