The VA Northern California Health Care System Medical Service is currently recruiting for Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) at the Mather location. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. for Echocardiography, registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS). English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, VA handbook 5005. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-4 Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) 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 position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR, Education: Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation GS-5 Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) 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 position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR, Education: Successful completion of [4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or] a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine. GS-6 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 1. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. 2. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle. 3. Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained. 4. 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. 5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure. GS-7 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 1. Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler. 2. 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. 3. Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms. 4. 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. GS-8 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 1. 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. 2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. 3. 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. 4. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography. 5. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment medical examination/physical, TB test, and other medical related requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Echocardiography technicians identify and record anomalies indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler. They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination. They change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility, variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient, presence of prosthesis or foreign objects, and ultrasonic response of different body parts. They produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Adjusts and selects machine controls based on specific type of study and ensures digital recorder is properly set to record test proceedings in specific mode. Listens to and visually observes heart valve activity distinguishing from normal and abnormal sounds and recognizing artifacts resulting from equipment, pacemaker, reflections, etc. Explains procedures to adult patients, to obtain cooperation and reduce anxieties. Accurately positions patient on the examination table to obtain the best view for the specific type of examination requested by the physician. Performs a variety of support activities such as prepares and maintains charts on each patient, maintains and enters patient data & measurements in CPRS and prepares the preliminary Echo report. Enters patient information into computer on equipment to record information on digital recording and strip printout of test. Attaches electrodes to patient's chest to monitor heart rhythm and connects electrodes to electrode leads of ultrasound equipment. Performs & records two-dimensional (2-D) ultrasonic recordings, M-Mode, and Doppler flow analyses (i.e., continuous wave, pulse wave, and color flow mapping) of the heart and related structures, using ultrasound equipment, for use by physician in diagnosis of heart disease and studies of the heart and how they change during the cardiac cycle. Operates digital equipment to freeze or provide digital loop recordings. Listens to and visualizes Doppler signals to detect the direction and velocity of blood as it moves within the heart; initiates pulse wave to obtain Doppler information of the living heart. Performs color flow mapping for noninvasive blood flow imaging utilizing pulse wave to display flow data and quantitative flow of blood in the living heart. Performs echocardiography studies on Veterans. Performs 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. Starts intravenous solutions (IVs) on adult patients as directed. Performs agitated saline contrast study to detect intra cardiac shunts and performs contrast studies for left ventricular opacification studies to improve endocardial border detection. Produces images of real time tomographic cardiac anatomy and adjusts equipment to obtain quality images. Moves transducer, by hand, over patient's heart areas; observes ultrasound display screen. Identifies abnormal heart conditions such as calcification, abnormal wall motion, defects in walls, bacterial growth on valves, and similar conditions. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required ???????This is an open continuous announcement with applicants being referred to the hiring manager every three weeks."]

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