Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

Summary The Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) operates independently and without direct supervision as the technologist responsible for the performance and coordination of all diagnostic medical sonography including abdominal, extremity, obstetrical/gynecological and vascular technology. 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: 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: Not required for this occupation but strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For certain functional areas at higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under “Titles and Certification/Registrations.” English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as per §2(b)(D)(5a). 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 in this occupation who meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet the following grade‑determining criteria for placement at the specified grade level. Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) GS-8 Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level demonstrating the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. Experience must provide overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual cases. KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body – including the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum. Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal‑systemic shunts, etc. Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled. Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations. Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – visit Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Duties Performs ultrasound procedures and special, complicated examinations including the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, and scrotum. Performs vascular studies (carotid, vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal‑systemic shunts, etc.). Assists in fluid aspirations. Performs equipment system check prior to use to assess acceptable performance based on established guidelines. Troubleshoots equipment during diagnostic procedures and can make minor repairs or adjustments. Recognizes and reports major equipment malfunctions timely to service representatives and imaging program manager, initiating work orders as necessary. Calibrates equipment following established calibration parameters, making adjustments to the system as needed. Navigates the patient's electronic clinical record prior to exam – including clinical diagnosis, laboratory results, and prior ultrasound/vascular exams – to prepare for and understand existing pathology. Maintains electronic records and files of exams performed on patients. Demonstrates excellent customer service at all times using tact, diplomacy and courtesy in dealing with patients, family, visitors, volunteers, and staff. Understands anatomy and physiology and cross‑sectional anatomy – recognizing unusual images and determining proper positioning to best demonstrate areas of interest. Schedules exams to optimize scanner times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases. Co‑confers with radiologists to determine the requirement of non‑standard exams. Determines technical factors – positioning, number and thickness of scans – to produce and satisfy US scanning requirements. Schedules patients for examinations. Advise radiologists or referring physicians of examination results and notifies them of scans requiring immediate attention. Communicates with coworkers – hospital staff – to hand off patients after an exam is completed. Creates necessary documentation in CPRS regarding patient status and completes incident reports for all infiltrates, extravasations and other unforeseen events. Explains examinations to patients so that the purpose of the study and any patient requirements are thoroughly understood. Participates in training of physicians, students and radiology technicians to acquire understanding of ultrasound principles and their relation to other diagnostic exams. Advises interpreting providers of significant abnormalities requiring immediate attention and visualization while the patient is undergoing examination. Distributes completed examinations and related information to the radiologist responsible for interpretation. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases; may receive a higher step rate for higher qualifications or special needs. Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year – 13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full‑time employees with total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a subsidy up to 25% of childcare costs, up to $416.66 monthly maximum. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions. Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many federal programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 14376F. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional. #J-18808-Ljbffr