Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The National CARDIO-VET Network is recruiting a Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) to work at one or more duty locations within the Cardiology Hub and Spoke Network in Maine. One vacancy is available at the Augusta, Chelsea, Bangor, Lincoln, Rumford, or Portland VA Clinics. The role performs advanced cardiovascular testing with cardiology physicians, including transthoracic echocardiograms, and uses specialized knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, biology, ultrasound physics, and cardiac sonography to obtain diagnostic images. The technician must communicate effectively and professionally with patients and employees and follow proper equipment-cleaning procedures.

The technician sets up, uses, reprocesses, and maintains reusable unit- or department-specific equipment in accordance with the equipment standard operating procedures, participates in initial and at least annual competency validation, manages inventory and coordinates ordering supplies, and works with biomedical engineering to maintain cardiac ultrasound equipment. The role ensures timely transfer of diagnostic images to the reporting server for inpatient and outpatient exams. It also uses word-processing and data-entry software, including Excel, and the VistA medical center computer system to manage documents, reports, letters, memoranda, and imaging data in accordance with VA regulations.

The position requires 75% travel between treatment areas and a valid driver's license. The stated work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; compressed or flexible scheduling may be available at the agency's discretion. Flexibility in schedule and assignments may be required because the hospital operates 24/7, and some positions may require rotating tours or ongoing non-administrative tours. The full-performance level is GS-9. Physical duties include traveling while pushing an echo machine, standing for 8–10 hours, lifting 20 pounds, manipulating probes against a patient's chest, transporting Veterans using stretchers, beds, and wheelchairs, and potentially sitting for extended periods at computer terminals.

Applicants must meet VA employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship (subject to the stated exception), English proficiency, applicable background and pre-employment checks, a physical evaluation, and required onboarding. The position is in the Excepted Service and is subject to a one- or two-year trial period. No specific education is required for the occupation. For the GS-9 grade, applicants need at least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade and must demonstrate the listed specialized knowledge and abilities. Licensure or certification is not required, though cardiac sonography credentials and Basic or Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification are desirable; professional RCS or RDCS certification and experience administering ultrasound/echo-enhancing agents are strongly preferred.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level for the GS-9 position.
• Knowledge of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in echocardiography.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• Ability to provide or arrange staff development and training.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A valid driver's license.
• Ability to travel to treatment areas, with expected travel of 75%.
• Ability to stand for up to 8–10 hours while providing patient care.
• Ability to lift 20 pounds of equipment, supplies, and records.
• Ability to manipulate probes against a patient's chest to obtain appropriate images.
• Ability to transport Veterans using stretchers, beds, and wheelchairs.
• Ability to travel while pushing an echo machine.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens.
• Must pass applicable pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required onboarding and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) through Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is strongly preferred.
• Experience administering ultrasound or echocardiography enhancing agents is strongly preferred.
• Basic or Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification is desirable.
• Licensure or certification is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above, though it is not required for this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-level cardiovascular testing with cardiology physicians, including transthoracic echocardiograms.
• Operate diagnostic equipment to acquire 2D, 3D, Doppler, and M-mode images of the heart and associated structures.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and employees during cardiac procedures.
• Clean equipment using proper approved procedures.
• Set up, use, reprocess, and maintain reusable unit- or department-specific equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Participate in equipment setup, use, reprocessing, and maintenance training and achieve initial and at least annual competency validation.
• Maintain inventory and coordinate ordering supplies needed for echocardiograms.
• Work with biomedical engineering to maintain cardiac ultrasound equipment.
• Ensure timely transfer of diagnostic images to the reporting server for inpatient and outpatient exams.
• Use word-processing and data-entry software, including Excel, to store and retrieve electronic files, operate printers, format reports and correspondence, and copy imaging data for providers in accordance with VA regulations.
• Use VistA to access information in the medical center computer system.
• Travel to assigned treatment areas and duty locations; expected travel is 75%.
• Provide training and supervision in complex examination and treatment procedures as applicable to the grade-level assignment.
• Evaluate and initiate performance-improvement projects and write echocardiography policies, procedures, and protocols as applicable to the grade-level assignment.
• Provide or arrange staff development and training.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 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 eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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 carried into retirement.
• Compressed or flexible scheduling may be available at the agency's discretion.

What This Job Offers

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