Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive

Veterans Health Administration • Dallas, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) operates diagnostic ultrasound equipment to produce cross-sectional and two-dimensional images of internal organs and body structures for diagnosing diseases and other medical conditions. The technician independently performs complex ultrasound examinations in a hospital setting, schedules patients, and adjusts priorities to accommodate critical and emergency procedures while maintaining efficient patient throughput.

The technician reviews prior images, explains procedures to patients, positions them, selects appropriate transducers, protocols, parameters, and technical and computer factors, and records diagnostic images. The role includes recognizing whether scans are acceptable, notifying radiologists about significant findings requiring immediate attention, modifying examinations to fit the clinical history, maintaining examination records, and assisting with service-improvement data collection. The technician maintains visual and vocal contact with patients during scans and responds to signs of distress.

The position may require call-back duty during urgent or special needs, when the technician may be responsible for contingencies in Radiology Service without an immediate supervisor. The schedule includes multiple shifts, standby call, and holiday work. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified individual; relocation assistance is not authorized. The position is onsite and is not telework-eligible or virtual.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to GS-08, directly related to the position, demonstrating the knowledge required to provide all aspects of diagnostic ultrasonography services.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Knowledge of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques sufficient to train and supervise, evaluate and initiate performance-improvement projects, and write relevant policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Must meet the stated onboarding, identification, influenza-vaccination, Selective Service (when applicable), and trial-period conditions.
• The GS-09 position has no education substitute for experience.

Nice To Haves

• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
• Competence in producing, using, recognizing, and analyzing ultrasound images and patterns used for diagnosis and treatment.
• Experience serving as an expert source for ultrasound imaging and supporting radiologists’ final interpretations.
• Appropriate work practices and ability to demonstrate and verbalize proper procedures.
• Knowledge and practice of hygiene, infection prevention, and infection control.
• Understanding of organ function and interrelationships, ultrasound examination methods and techniques, and image identification and diagnostic acceptability.
• Attention to detail and good hand-eye coordination.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine through highly specialized ultrasound examinations in a hospital setting.
• Review patients’ prior images to help localize organs and vessels being examined.
• Receive patients, explain procedures, position patients, and select appropriate technical settings, computer factors, transducers, protocols, and parameters.
• Make standard examinations independently and produce diagnostic images.
• Notify the radiologist of significant scans requiring immediate attention while the patient is undergoing the examination.
• Determine whether scans are acceptable or should be rejected, based on knowledge of ultrasonography and specialized equipment.
• Coordinate ultrasound patient scheduling to accommodate emergency cases while maintaining patient throughput.
• Modify examinations when appropriate to match the written clinical history.
• Maintain records of patients treated, examinations performed, and types of scans taken.
• Evaluate critical and emergency procedures and rearrange patient priorities as needed.
• Maintain visual and vocal contact with patients during scans; recognize distress and intervene or contact a physician as needed.
• Assist the management team with collecting statistical data to monitor and improve clinical services.
• Respond to call-back duty during urgent or special-need situations and manage Radiology Service contingencies when no immediate supervisor is available.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility rules.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and 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 may be continued into retirement.
• Recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified individual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed