Summary

This individual will work in the Cardiac Non-Invasive Laboratory under the supervision of Staff Cardiologists at the Fredericksburg HCC. This individual is responsible for performing the following technical diagnostic test: echocardiograms and stress echocardiograms.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - Part II - section D - paragraph 5a
• 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-9. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level - positions at this grade may be lead - supervisory - or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments
• Experience
• At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities.KSAs 1 - 2 - and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level
• KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment
• 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 Echocardiography
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• Ability to manage and supervise employees
• Ability to provide - or provide for - staff development and training
• Certification
• Registration 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) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Preferred Experience: Applicants with a minimum of 5 years of experience
• 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-9. Physical Requirements: Must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting - standing - bending - transferring - stooping - stretching - walking - pushing - or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other
• A health examination must be successfully complete prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Employee Health Clinic policy.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but not limited to the following: Perform a complete echocardiogram test by obtaining and recording real time two dimensional ultrasound pictures - m-mode - pulsed and continuous wave and color doppler
• Incumbent will be responsible for specific measurements and calculations that will be included in the echocardiogram test
• Be proficient in operating a diagnostic ultrasound machine to obtain quality images to be digital recorded for cardiologist review
• Prepares preliminary diagnostic report for each echocardiogram for review by the cardiologist
• Alert physicians to findings on the echocardiogram that may require prompt intervention before an official interpretation can be rendered (i.e
• severe pericardial effusion with tamponade - severe valvular disease)
• Is responsible for organizing daily workload in the echocardiography lab - ordering supplies and maintaining equipment
• Will be flexible to do stat/emergent echocardiograms
• Is responsible for \"trouble- shooting\" diagnostic ultrasound equipment when problems occur
• Be responsible for calling Biomedical technician to repair equipment
• Incumbent will be responsible for setting up - performing - and analyzing data of pharmacological stress - exercise stress and contrast echocardiograms
• Will be able to monitor patient's ECG and blood pressure
• The incumbent will be responsible for setting up and assisting with transesophageal echocardiograms
• Will be responsible for taking and recording vital signs during stress echo test and transesophageal echo test and post TEE recovery
• Will keep up to date in echocardiographic literature and keep abreast of technical developments and evolving applications in the field of echocardiography
• Will participate in clinical echocardiography reading sessions
• Will participate in special research studies by doing transthoracic echos according to protocol
• Will process encounter form in CPRS for all echo tests done (i.e
• Transthoracic - Transesophageal echo - Dobutamine stress echo - Exercise stress echo) Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and can effectively perform during emergent situations
• Maintain CPR certification
• .Will perform routine daily checks of the crash cart - ensuing safe and continual functional operation of the equipment and document the same in the crash cart log
• Will be responsible for cleansing the TEE probe per protocol
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm 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 #: 000000