Summary

The Birmingham VA Medical Center operates a 139-bed tertiary care teaching hospital and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of patient care to Veterans in Alabama. The Medical Center provides comprehensive health care through primary care and tertiary care in areas of medicine - surgery - psychiatry - physical medicine and rehabilitation - neurology - oncology - dentistry - geriatrics - blind rehabilitation and is a recognized leader in palliative care and multiple sclerosis.

Qualifications

Diagnostic Ultrasound Technicians operate diagnostic ultrasonic scanning equipment to produce cross sectional and two dimensional pictures of internal organs and body structures used to diagnose diseases and other medical conditions. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizenship of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) 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 certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments - specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations"
• For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable
• Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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: Medical Instrument Technician (DU) - 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 medical terminology and human anatomy in order to receive and interpret physician requests for routine - standardized ultrasonography procedures
• 2
• Knowledge of tissue harmonics and soundwave propagation within the body to adjust TGC (Time Gain Compensation) for optimal image quality
• 3
• Knowledge of the physics of velocity - frequency of soundwaves - and their physical properties
• 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
• Certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable
• Assignment
• At this level - medical instrument technicians (diagnostic ultrasound) perform examinations which are routine and standardized in nature
• They position the patient as needed for the best test results - set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the condition of the examination and patient - move and adjust depths and types of scan in accordance with procedures - perform operator preventive maintenance and care of equipment - and assist higher graded technicians in performing more complicated examinations
• Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (DU) - 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 diagnostic ultrasonography examinations
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 1
• 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
• 2
• Knowledge of zoom - expansion - prospectus - color Doppler - and pulsed echo Doppler
• 3
• Knowledge of the digital transmission of images
• 4
• Ability to alter standard - but complex procedures and protocols to meet patient needs and physical limitations
• Certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable
• Assignment
• At this level the medical instrument technician (diagnostic ultrasound) performs complex - standardized procedures independently
• They have the knowledge to alter procedures - equipment settings - transducers used - etc. - to accommodate patient needs and still produce a quality image for diagnostic purposes
• They will also be required to assist with the performance of more complicated procedures and non- standardized procedures in a developmental capacity
• Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (DU) - 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 ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual cases
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 1
• Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body - including - but not limited to - the abdomen - pelvis - transvaginal - chest - small parts - thyroid - breast - and scrotum
• 2
• Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral - renal artery - aortic aneurysm - portal systemic shunts - etc
• 3
• Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location - depth - and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled
• 4
• Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations
• Certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable
• Assignment
• This represents the full performance level for medical instrument technician (diagnostic ultrasound)
• At this level the technician is required to perform a full range of procedures including special complicated examinations for which there are no standard instructions or procedures
• They perform independent portable ultrasound examinations in the intensive care units - emergency room - surgery - and throughout the Medical Center when required
• They also work independently on evenings - nights - and weekend tours of duty as scheduled and/or when on call
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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-06 to GS-08
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - however - not limited to: Serves as operator of Ultrasound system - as well as accessory equipment
• Interaction with physicians - physicists - computer programs - and biomed engineers will be normal occurrence of the daily duties of the operator
• Provides patient care - which is appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient
• Use varies ultrasound probe to obtain images and monitors patient during all phases of the examination - until completion of the data acquisition
• Monitors the examination by checking computations - performances - and results of the selected protocol to obtain the best diagnostic computer-generated data and images
• Maintains equipment malfunction and downtime log
• Maintains examination log - computer data and technical parameters on each examination
• Maintains technical knowledge up to date by attending continued medical education training
• Maintains knowledge up to date in relation to safety and infection control
• Maintains supplies required for all Ultrasound examinations
• Works independently on evenings - nights - and weekend tours of duty as scheduled and/or when on call - based on the facility/department needs
• Evaluates equipment to ensure it is safe for Ultrasound operation
• Networks with engineering and other services to make certain Ultrasound equipment meet requirement
• Maintains scanners - transducers - imaging station and all other equipment needed to perform daily activities
• Cleans and disinfects equipment when needed
• Keeps supplies well stocked for routine and interventional exams
• Performs pre-procedure and post-procedures evaluation of patients undergoing invasive procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM
• The selectee will be on call for shared holidays - rotating Saturday coverage only - and some weekend on call
• May be required to work different shifts or compressed schedule - if needed
• This is subject to change based on the operational needs of the agency
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61648F - 61866F - 61864F
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.