Medical Instrument Technician - Echocardiography

Echocardiography provides specialized services in the efficient operation of the Cardiovascular Laboratory and the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disorders for adult and geriatric patients. The position is located in the Medicine, Geriatrics, and PM&R at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, PA. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service, and as assigned.
Qualifications:Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• Licensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Grade Determinations:
GS-6, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.
• Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.
• Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.
• Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures.
• Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.

Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
GS-7, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.
• Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc.
• Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.
• Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures.

Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.
GS-8, Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow Doppler imaging. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
• Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart and valves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.
• Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography.
• Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.

Certification: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART 2, Appendix G27.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-8.
Physical Requirements: High levels of energy and stamina are critical to cope with the demands of a rigorous job which requires the individual to work simultaneously in several areas: The Cardiovascular Laboratory and the Wards. The position requires lifting light to heavy items. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. It involves walking, frequent bending, reaching, and stretching. regular and recurring exposure of infection and contagious disease, which require health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing.

Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: FULL_TIME