Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (Mammography)

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

17h • Onsite

About The Position

The Mammography Technologist performs duties in the Mammography section, including screening and diagnostic mammograms and assisting with interventional breast procedures. The technologist operates independently and without direct supervision to perform and coordinate mammography exams that support accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The role includes coordinating and organizing workflow, scheduling patients, maintaining procedural and workload records, preparing and positioning patients, and explaining procedures. The technologist assists radiologists with needle localization, breast biopsy, and cyst aspiration, including making exposures after needle placement and imaging breast tissue submitted for pathology.

The technologist performs quality-control procedures and maintains mammography documentation and reports to ensure compliance with ACR, FDA, and VA standards. Responsibilities also include submitting annual updates and periodic films and documents to the ACR, recognizing breast anatomy and pathology, keeping current with technological advances, and maintaining required certifications.

The technologist maintains a clean work area, prepares management briefings and accomplishment reports, monitors equipment and quality-control procedures, identifies malfunctions, coordinates film and disc transfers, dispatches images and reports, and tracks outside radiographs on loan. The scheduled work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a non-virtual position; telework and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Certification in general radiologic technology by ARRT in Radiography (R).
• Advanced ARRT certification in Mammography (M) for independently performed mammography duties, as applicable; on-the-job training with oversight may be provided to technologists who do not yet have advanced certification.
• Completion of a full-time diagnostic radiologic technology training course of at least 24 months, or equivalent, in a post-high-school program evidenced by a certificate or associate degree and accredited by JRCERT or another accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, subject to the stated grandfathering provision.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position, demonstrating the relevant clinical competencies.
• Ability to balance patient and staff needs while performing complex scans and procedures.
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from medical records, significant others, and health care providers.
• Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate a procedure.
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography.
• Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques, and universal precautions.
• Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural patient care.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Compliance with required background/security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements; applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated VA positions are subject to pre-appointment drug testing.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements, including heavy lifting of 45 pounds or more; moderate carrying of 15–45 pounds; pushing, pulling, and reaching above the shoulders for up to four hours; manual dexterity; prolonged walking, standing, or sitting; repeated bending; rapid mental and muscular coordination; specified vision, color discrimination, and hearing abilities; speed, emotional stability, and ability to work while wearing a lead apron for potentially long periods.
• Successful completion of a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience in the preferred experience category.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, plan, organize, and execute work in the mammography section to support efficient departmental workflow.
• Schedule patients and maintain daily logs of patients and procedures for statistical workload profiles.
• Receive and position patients for examinations; explain procedures to reduce anxiety and encourage cooperation.
• Perform screening and diagnostic mammograms.
• Assist radiologists with interventional procedures, including needle localization, breast biopsy, and cyst aspiration; make exposures after needle placement and image breast tissue submitted for pathology.
• Perform mammography quality-control procedures, including checks of grid alignment and artifacts, equipment phantom and reproducibility, automatic exposure control density and field sensitivity, integrity, view-box consistency and uniformity, and compression.
• Create, implement, collect, critique, and prepare mammography documents and reports to maintain compliance with ACR, FDA, and VA requirements.
• Submit annual updates to the ACR and submit films and associated documents for ACR review every three years.
• Recognize breast anatomy and pathology and adjust imaging as needed to ensure adequate visualization for diagnosis.
• Keep abreast of technological advances in mammography and maintain ARRT and BCLS licenses or certifications.
• Keep examination and work rooms clean and neat.
• Develop and present management briefing reports about mammography-section operations, accomplishments, proposed improvements, and equipment status.
• Maximize the number of exposures without compromising quality standards.
• Monitor equipment through daily, weekly, and quarterly quality-control procedures; suggest necessary repairs or adjustments and promptly report major malfunctions to the Administrative Officer or a BioMed Representative.
• Coordinate incoming and outgoing films and discs, dispatch images and reports to outside physicians and hospitals, and track outside radiographs to ensure loaned materials are returned.
• Use up-to-date record-keeping and tracking mechanisms.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree