Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Veterans Health Administration • Saint Louis, MO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The GS-9 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) at John Cochran Medical Center, VA Saint Louis Health Care System, performs a broad range of echocardiographic procedures, including transthoracic 2D/3D imaging, transesophageal echocardiography, and stress echocardiograms. The technologist applies advanced knowledge of cardiac anatomy and physiology, exercises independent judgment to optimize examinations, and tailors procedures to support comprehensive and accurate diagnosis. The role also includes mentoring and teaching others in complex imaging and contributing to standardized Echo Lab policies and protocols. The sonographer interprets examination results and presents recommendations or possible diagnoses to the interpreting physician.

The position is full-time and permanent, scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the schedule may change based on health care system needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. The work requires prolonged arm and hand positioning, standing, bending, and moving echocardiography equipment to patient-care areas. Incapacitated patients are lifted only with assistance and safe patient-handling equipment.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position, demonstrating the knowledge required to provide all aspects of echocardiography services.
• Ability to produce diagnostic-quality images and Doppler frequency-shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed- and continuous-wave Doppler, and color-flow Doppler imaging.
• Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations associated with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
• Ability to perform complex cardiac and cardiovascular examinations, including studies of heart chambers and valves and evaluation of pressure gradients across obstructed valves.
• Ability to perform transthoracic, bubble, contrast, stress, and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations.
• Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to individual patients and clinical questions, recognize pertinent abnormalities, and document abnormal findings.
• Knowledge of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques sufficient to train and supervise others, evaluate and initiate performance-improvement projects, and write echocardiography 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 is required, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to pre-appointment drug testing and must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical ability to perform prolonged careful arm and hand positioning, stand, bend, and push an echocardiography machine; lifting incapacitated patients is performed with assistance and safe patient-handling equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS).
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
• At least five years of experience performing cardiac ultrasound; or at least four years of cardiac ultrasound experience plus two years of related post-high-school education or an associate degree; or at least three years of cardiac ultrasound experience plus a related bachelor's degree or four years of post-high-school education leading to a bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

• Perform, record, and archive echocardiograms using digital technology.
• Perform 2D/3D, M-mode, continuous- and pulsed-wave Doppler, and color-flow imaging.
• Independently perform 2D transthoracic examinations and determine when saline injection studies or a left-ventricular cavity opacification agent are appropriate.
• Perform stress echocardiograms using digital acquisition and pharmaceutical agents, with or without a left-ventricular cavity opacification agent.
• Assist cardiologists with 2D/3D transesophageal echocardiography and acquire images using digital acquisition.
• Safely obtain high-quality echocardiographic images during fluoroscopy-guided structural heart and interventional procedures, including TAVR and endomyocardial biopsy, while using required lead personal protective equipment and following radiation-safety standards.
• Inform cardiologists of preliminary examination results as needed.
• Receive and prepare patients, explain procedures, assist patients on and off the examination bed, perform examinations, change bed linen, and disinfect equipment after each patient.
• Capture workload by entering CPT codes into encounters.
• Independently perform 3D transthoracic examinations for complex valvular heart disease.
• Perform strain imaging in echocardiography.
• Assist with quality-improvement review in accordance with IAC accreditation guidelines.
• Perform 12-lead EKGs as needed.
• Teach and mentor others in complex echocardiographic imaging.
• Contribute to the development of standardized Echo Lab policies and protocols.
• Use independent judgment and problem-solving skills to optimize and tailor examinations, recognize abnormalities, and support accurate diagnosis.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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