Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Veterans Health Administration • Green Bay, WI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) performs diagnostic echocardiography examinations for Veterans. The position produces diagnostic-quality images and Doppler frequency-shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous-wave Doppler spectral display, and color-flow Doppler imaging. It performs complex cardiac studies, including examinations of the heart's chambers and valves to detect abnormalities, and Dobutamine and exercise stress studies.

The technician adapts patient positioning, transducer placement, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the patient and clinical question; monitors patients during procedures; recognizes significant or emergency findings; and documents results and encounter information accurately. The role also includes operating, calibrating, and maintaining ECHO equipment, completing required encounter fields and codes, assisting with consult triage and scheduling practices, supporting policy and procedure development, and communicating professionally with patients, families, staff, and outside customers.

The position's stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 0730–1600. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• At least one full year of experience as a Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) at the GS-7 level or comparable, demonstrating the ability to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to produce diagnostic-quality images and Doppler frequency-shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous-wave Doppler spectral display, and color-flow Doppler imaging.
• Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and changes associated with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
• Ability to perform complex studies of the four heart chambers and valves using sector scanning techniques, including detecting stenosis, valve incompetence, chamber enlargement, pericardial effusion, and pressure gradients across obstructed valves.
• Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations, including noninvasive transthoracic, bubble, and contrast echocardiography, as well as invasive stress and transesophageal echocardiography.
• Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the patient and clinical problem, recognize pertinent abnormalities, and document abnormal findings.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Must meet applicable onboarding, identification, and application-document requirements.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Education or degrees used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic-quality echocardiography imaging and Doppler recordings using M-mode, 2-D, pulsed-wave and continuous-wave spectral Doppler, and color-flow Doppler.
• Perform complex cardiac studies of the heart's chambers and valves to identify stenotic or incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, pericardial effusion, thrombus, and pressure gradients across obstructed valves.
• Perform Dobutamine and exercise stress studies.
• Adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, patient positioning, respiratory rate, and examination techniques to the patient and clinical question to obtain diagnostic-quality images.
• Monitor patients during procedures and report significant findings according to policies and procedures.
• Recognize serious problems on echo tracings and use professional judgment to determine when emergency medical intervention is required.
• Accurately document information in medical records and other clinical or administrative applications.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain specialized equipment in the ECHO suite.
• Complete ECHO encounters with the appropriate CPT codes, diagnosis, service-connection status, and other required fields; assist management with encounter practices.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels, patients and their families, and customers from outside facilities.
• Assist in developing policies and procedures for the echocardiography suite.
• Assist the scheduling MSA in assessing consult appropriateness, triage, and priority when needed.
• Maintain competence in peripheral IV insertion for contrast use in Echo studies.
• Use knowledge of cardiac symptoms, auscultation results, medical terminology, and diagnostic tools to assess possible cardiac abnormalities and suspected diagnoses.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal employment, work experience, or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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