Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Philadelphia, PA

46d

About The Position

This is above the full performance level for the Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) requiring specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. The work involves operating or monitoring diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments and equipment associated with vascular and general sonography duties, to include carotid ultrasound and complex doppler studies, as well as general ultrasound. Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic or on the inpatient unit Portable and emergent examinations are required. Knows and understands the principles of grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound as well as segmental. plethysmography, pulse volume recordings, ankle brachial indices and pre-and post-exercise testing and equipment, and the highly specialized equipment well enough to approve the quality and acceptability or non-acceptability of each examination. Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam. Receives and identifies patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables, positions the patient and performs examinations requested. Performs vascular sonography studies, records and prepares the processed media for interpretation by the staff radiologist. Maintains records of patients in the Vista radiology package and any other commercial PACS. Schedules and prepares patients for exams and explains-procedures to patients while performing the studies. Obtains pertinent diagnostic vascular examinations for the physician. Routinely performs vascular studies. Performs ultrasound examinations of the abdomen, neck, chest and extremities, retroperitoneal space, pelvis, OB, and Vascular studies. Differentiates artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes electronic equipment limitations. Recognizes all the elements of a diagnostic ultrasound examination and consults with Staff Vascular Surgeons to determine the proper diagnosis. Knowledge of cross-sectional, coronal, longitudinal and variable plane 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, stenosis, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation. Understands the effect of exercise pre-and post-stress as applied to segmental plethysmography, pulse volume recordings and segmental pressure analysis of the upper and lower extremities. Ability to provide Doppler information of central and peripheral arteries and veins; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify central and peripheral arterial vascular stenosis; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmograph tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, partially obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts. 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. Performs training of technicians or technologists for any new ultrasound or vascular procedure. Performs routine clerical procedures as necessary to include calling patients the day prior to remind them of their appointments and describe any exam prep required. Reviews new developments in the field and recommends to supervisor those that would improve the operation of the section. Maintains adequate supplies. Reviews related information found in the patient's electronic medical record to correlate lab and x-ray for the radiologist. Provides and sends ultrasound images and related information to the vascular surgeon responsible for the interpretation of the exams. Operates multi-image camera. Assures that preventative maintenance and any required QA is completed in a timely manner. Performs or supervises routine housekeeping duties to assure that the ultrasound area is clean and sanitary. Follows standard operating procedures for disinfection of all transducers utilized. The incumbent must be aware of and practice the safety policies/procedures of the medical center and participate in quality assurance activities as directed. Assists in the development of new protocols, policies and procedure manuals. This includes development of new ultrasound protocols for general applications and updating technical policy and procedure manuals. Ultrasound protocols are updated at least yearly and new examinations are added on a routine basis in order to accommodate expanded service in General, Vascular and Carotid. Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, and the quality management program, assuring corrective action is initiated as needed. Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

Requirements

specialized advanced knowledge
principles of grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound
segmental plethysmography
pulse volume recordings
ankle brachial indices and pre-and post-exercise testing and equipment
cross-sectional, coronal, longitudinal and variable plane 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, stenosis, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation
effect of exercise pre-and post-stress as applied to segmental plethysmography, pulse volume recordings and segmental pressure analysis of the upper and lower extremities.
Doppler information of central and peripheral arteries and veins
characteristic differences related to the organs they supply
accurately quantify central and peripheral arterial vascular stenosis
identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmograph tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, partially obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
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.
objective data to document progression or regression of disease.

Responsibilities

Coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-ionizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic or on the inpatient unit Portable and emergent examinations are required.
Knows and understands the principles of grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound as well as segmental. plethysmography, pulse volume recordings, ankle brachial indices and pre-and post-exercise testing and equipment, and the highly specialized equipment well enough to approve the quality and acceptability or non-acceptability of each examination.
Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam.
Receives and identifies patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables, positions the patient and performs examinations requested.
Performs vascular sonography studies, records and prepares the processed media for interpretation by the staff radiologist. Maintains records of patients in the Vista radiology package and any other commercial PACS.
Schedules and prepares patients for exams and explains-procedures to patients while performing the studies.
Obtains pertinent diagnostic vascular examinations for the physician.
Routinely performs vascular studies.
Performs ultrasound examinations of the abdomen, neck, chest and extremities, retroperitoneal space, pelvis, OB, and Vascular studies.
Differentiates artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes electronic equipment limitations.
Recognizes all the elements of a diagnostic ultrasound examination and consults with Staff Vascular Surgeons to determine the proper diagnosis.
Knowledge of cross-sectional, coronal, longitudinal and variable plane 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, stenosis, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation. Understands the effect of exercise pre-and post-stress as applied to segmental plethysmography, pulse volume recordings and segmental pressure analysis of the upper and lower extremities.
Ability to provide Doppler information of central and peripheral arteries and veins; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify central and peripheral arterial vascular stenosis; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmograph tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, partially obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
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.
Performs training of technicians or technologists for any new ultrasound or vascular procedure.
Performs routine clerical procedures as necessary to include calling patients the day prior to remind them of their appointments and describe any exam prep required.
Reviews new developments in the field and recommends to supervisor those that would improve the operation of the section.
Maintains adequate supplies.
Reviews related information found in the patient's electronic medical record to correlate lab and x-ray for the radiologist.
Provides and sends ultrasound images and related information to the vascular surgeon responsible for the interpretation of the exams.
Operates multi-image camera.
Assures that preventative maintenance and any required QA is completed in a timely manner.
Performs or supervises routine housekeeping duties to assure that the ultrasound area is clean and sanitary.
Follows standard operating procedures for disinfection of all transducers utilized.
The incumbent must be aware of and practice the safety policies/procedures of the medical center and participate in quality assurance activities as directed.
Assists in the development of new protocols, policies and procedure manuals. This includes development of new ultrasound protocols for general applications and updating technical policy and procedure manuals. Ultrasound protocols are updated at least yearly and new examinations are added on a routine basis in order to accommodate expanded service in General, Vascular and Carotid.
Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, and the quality management program, assuring corrective action is initiated as needed.
Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.