Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

Veterans Health Administration • Martinsburg, WV

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) works in the Diagnostic Imaging service at the Martinsburg West Virginia VA Medical Center. The technician coordinates and performs technical procedures using non-ionizing, high-frequency ultrasound to help diagnose disease in clinic and inpatient settings, exercising independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative. The role involves performing a full range of ultrasound procedures, including complex examinations that may not have standard instructions or procedures, and may include independent portable examinations in intensive care units, the emergency room, surgery, and elsewhere in the Medical Center when required.

The technician performs general diagnostic and vascular studies, prepares patients and equipment, and records and processes examination media for interpretation by a staff radiologist. The position is full time, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling and telework are not available. This is a permanent, non-virtual position at the GS-09 level. The full performance level is GS-09.

Requirements

• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-08 level in the relevant assignments and knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations on multiple body areas, including the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal area, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum.
• Ability to perform vascular studies, such as vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, and portal-systemic shunt studies.
• Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures by determining lesion location, depth, and required needle angle.
• Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations.
• Knowledge of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques, including their use in training and supervision, performance improvement, and development of policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Meet VA onboarding and identification requirements, complete the application requirements in the announcement, and comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Meet applicable federal education-recognition requirements if using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS).
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Vascular and general diagnostic ultrasound experience.
• ARDMS certification or registration.
• RVT certification or registration.

Responsibilities

• Control ultrasound technical factors, including time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, reflection, scattering, refraction, and diffraction.
• Select the appropriate ultrasound transducer array; set up and adjust equipment; and manually maneuver the transducer to perform examinations.
• Receive and identify patients, explain procedures, assist patients moving to and from wheelchairs, carts, and tables, position patients, and perform requested examinations.
• Evaluate critical and emergency procedures and rearrange priorities to accommodate them.
• Perform ultrasonography studies, record results, and prepare processed media for interpretation by a staff radiologist.
• Maintain patient records in the VistA radiology package; schedule and prepare patients for examinations; and explain procedures while performing studies.
• Obtain pertinent diagnostic examinations for the physician as needed to correlate ultrasound findings with clinical history.
• Perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations of areas including the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal area, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum.
• Perform vascular studies, including carotid duplex, ABI, arterial duplex, venous duplex, renal artery duplex, and visceral vascular examinations of the abdomen.
• Perform preoperative upper- and lower-extremity vein mappings and chronic venous insufficiency studies.
• Assist radiologists with biopsy procedures by determining lesion location, depth, and required needle angle.
• Assist with surgical procedures and fluid aspirations, applying and enforcing sterile technique.
• Recognize diagnostic scans and consult with the staff radiologist to determine the proper diagnosis.
• Perform other assigned tasks and duties.
• Perform independent portable ultrasound examinations in intensive care units, the emergency room, surgery, and throughout the Medical Center when required.
• Provide training and supervision in complex examination and treatment procedures; evaluate and initiate performance-improvement projects; and write policies, procedures, and protocols pertaining to diagnostic ultrasonography.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits; the subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) contributions of up to 5% by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives (sign-on bonus) may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

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