Medical Instrument Technician - Vascular

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Medical Instrument Technician Vascular is in Surgical Service's Non-Invasive Vascular Lab at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. This role uses independent clinical judgment to evaluate patients with suspected aortic, renal, mesenteric, peripheral arterial, and venous disease and perform complex diagnostic testing. It is responsible for daily lab operations under the Vascular Lab Technologist Supervisor and Chief of Vascular Surgery, managing workflow and reporting critical findings.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower GS-8 grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.
• Experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and/or guidance to other technicians.
• Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation.
• Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
• Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.
• Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume.
• Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease.
• Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to vascular ultrasonography.
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.
• Regular physical exertion to safely and effectively perform a wide range of non-invasive vascular studies.
• Must be able to lift, position, and assist patients who may be seriously ill or have significant physical disabilities.
• Duties require standing and walking for prolonged periods, reaching and bending to operate equipment, and maintaining steady manual control for extended scanning procedures.
• Physically capable of entering sterile operating room environments and performing intraoperative ultrasound when needed.
• Ability to adjust or refine procedures to accommodate patients who are debilitated, post-operative, or physically compromised.

Nice To Haves

• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) is highly desirable.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.
• Demonstrated experience independently performing complex abdominal, visceral, and specialized color duplex evaluations, including: Mesenteric artery duplex studies, Renal artery stenosis and graft surveillance, Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) / AAA post-intervention surveillance, Temporal artery duplex scans (Giant Cell Arteritis assessment).
• Proficiency in conducting comprehensive non-invasive physiological testing and tissue oxygenation assessments, including: Segmental Limb Pressures (SLPs), Photoplethysmography (PPGs) and digital pressures, Transcutaneous Oxygen Measurements (TCOMs).

Responsibilities

• Performs various non-invasive vascular studies of the upper/lower extremities, neck, and torso (abdominal and pelvic regions) to diagnose venous and arterial diseases (i.e., aneurysms, plaque, stenosis) and detect thrombosis, as well as incidental tumors, tissue-mass cysts, thyroid abnormalities, fluid collections, and abscesses.
• Participates in clinical work and ongoing research of the Vascular Laboratory, utilizing specialized survey studies, methodologies, and unique equipment (e.g., GE E9, Parks Flo-Lab, TCOMs).
• Performs a variety of non-invasive ultrasound and Doppler tests, including upper/lower extremity arterial and venous studies, segmental pressures, neck studies, cervical studies, abdominal cavity studies including but not limited to evaluation of renal and mesenteric arterial disease and post endovascular aneurysm assessments.
• Employs advanced imaging modalities, including high-resolution imaging, pulsed Doppler with gray scale spectrum, simultaneous 2-D imaging, 3-D imaging, Power Doppler, M-mode, and digital processing.
• Interviews patients to obtain medical and vascular histories used to recognize undetected disease through analysis of significant symptoms.
• Evaluates patient information to decide if additional testing is required beyond original provider requests.
• Confers with ordering providers as well as the vascular tech supervisor and vascular surgical team to ensure appropriate additional testing is completed when indicated.
• Compiles and analyzes patient history, physical examination, and non-invasive study data upon completion of examinations.
• Provides preliminary diagnostic evaluations to referring physicians and immediately alerts medical staff to critical abnormal results or emergency situations.
• Conducts interpretive and diagnostic evaluations as part of testing procedures, providing findings under the supervision.
• Generates diagnostic evaluation reports that influence subsequent patient management and treatment planning.
• Correlates data gathered from non-invasive testing with invasive studies (e.g., venograms and angiograms) for repeat patients to improve clinical performance and research.
• Assists intraoperatively with intraoperative ultrasound and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) procedures.
• Explains procedural methods and positions patients for requested examinations.
• Identifies and accounts for artifacts and abnormalities during procedures to produce high-quality, accurate studies.
• Complies with mandatory VHA Employee Education requirements.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Maintains compliance with mandatory requirements in VHA directives, outpatient scheduling processes, and operational procedures.
• Organizes and sets up staff in-service training sessions and clinical conferences.
• Reviews developments in the field and recommends operational improvements to the supervisor.
• Stocks and maintains adequate inventory levels of lab supplies, report forms, and general office materials.
• Coordinates with equipment manufacturers to maximize service contracts/guarantees and acquire adaptable new technologies.
• Performs daily setup, maintenance, and cleanup of medical machinery in the laboratory per Infection Control policies.
• Applies principles of asepsis, sterilization, and infection control to enter sterile operating environments, removing and replacing patient dressings during procedures.
• Delivers care needed to obtain studies or as needed to patients who are seriously ill and may be supported with ventilator or other advanced support or present with varying degrees of physical disabilities, have wounds and complex medical conditions as needed.
• Willing to fill in weekend shifts if needed

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What This Job Offers

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