Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Department of Veterans Affairs • Martinsburg, WV

52d • Onsite

About The Position

This position requires a highly skilled Sonographer with a comprehensive, specialized education in the medical and technical aspects of diagnostic cardiac sonography. This position is located with the Specialty Service line working under the Chief of Medicine, Cardiologist and Cardiopulmonary coordinator at the Martinsburg, WV, VAMC.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Responsibilities

• Independently perform diagnostic tests, provide patient education, and act as a liaison and information source for the patient and family, nursing staff and medical staff.
• Responsible for the delivery of professional services and the provision of high-quality patient care in the Echo Lab.
• Review performance for quality and accuracy.
• Performs cardiac ultrasound (echocardiograms) autonomously to acquire the maximum diagnostic image quality. All echocardiograms include M-mode, two-dimensional and doppler examinations
• Performs portable ultrasound procedures on the patients who cannot be transported to the department.
• Maintains logs and controls.
• Manipulates high technology ultrasound equipment in the production of diagnostic images
• Receives patients and explains the procedure.
• Positions the patient in sitting, recumbent, prone or oblique position in the echocardiographic laboratory or by the bedside.
• Positions the transducer to the thorax, or body part under examination, using contact real time imaging techniques.
• Must have basic understanding of computer operations, including the operation of alphanumeric keyboard input, in order to select various programs to best demonstrate cardiac structures or body parts, in different positions, and to prepare equipment for operation, and to change imaging modalities as conditions warrant on different ultrasound systems.
• Assesses and interprets cardiac structures and blood flow during doppler studies.
• Operates various items of photographic equipment to record oscilloscope images.
• Operates videotape recorder and/or digital recorder to maintain a record for physician interpretation and for future reference.
• Operates continuous wave doppler with color flow mapping.
• Trains other staff including physicians and medical students, relevant to ultrasound such as appearance and functions of various systems and the physical abnormalities.
• Performs basic maintenance of ultrasound equipment on a regular basis and notifies supervisor of any equipment problems.
• Maintains adequate stock of equipment.
• Consults with cardiologist and/or physician regarding interpretation of echo testing results.
• Schedules and prioritizes patients for echocardiograms studies.
• Screens echo consults to determine if patient requires urgent evaluation.
• Maintains patient log upon completion of exam.
• Labels videotape of completed exam.
• Provides a preliminary report of the echocardiogram prior to review by cardiologist and/or physician.
• Files completed reports in appropriate locations and maintains a copy of all exams within the Cardiopulmonary Department.
• Receives information and keep abreast of new developments in the field and makes recommendations as to how improvements might be made to operate the section.
• Other tasks/duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
• 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.
• After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees