Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) to perform diagnostic echocardiography in complex cases, interpret findings, and contribute to ultrasonic diagnostic plans.

The role requires proficiency in heart anatomy, Doppler, and advanced echo techniques, with attention to patient care and data entry. Responsibilities include operating ultrasound equipment, recording measurements, and coordinating with physicians to ensure high-quality imaging

Qualifications

• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Basic qualification standards require U.S. citizenship and English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Perform and document diagnostic echocardiography examinations.
• Operate ultrasound equipment and Doppler recording devices.
• Interpret and record findings and discuss results with supervising staff.
• Maintain and calibrate echo probes and machines.
• Enter data into the cardiac echo reporting system.
• Ensure patient safety and comfort during procedures.

Skills

Heart anatomy

Cardiac arrhythmias

Echo physics

Ultrasound operation

Patient communication

Education

No specific education required

Tools

Ultrasound scanners

Doppler devices

Image analysis software

Job description

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) works independently conducting diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. They identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant conditions from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous Doppler recordings - incorporating the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination.

The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) works independently conducting diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. They identify and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant conditions from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous Doppler recordings - incorporating the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination.

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
• For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the criteria discussed in the applicable headings - or that defined in the appendices - must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) GS-4: 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
• -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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-5: 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
• -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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) 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: 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
• 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: 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
• 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: 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
• 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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-4 up to GS-8.

Duties

• This is an open continuous announcement
• Applicants in USA Staffing will be qualified based on the resume submitted and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager every one to two weeks until the announcement is closed - cancelled - or filled
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification
• All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge - Skill - and Ability (KSA) on a separate document
• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Performs cardiac ultrasound examinations and quantifies observed abnormalities - including complex calculations of valve areas and alterations in function - and ejection fraction with assistance as necessary
• Confers with supervising MIT Echocardiography tech to resolve any issues and provide quality imaging
• Measures pulmonary artery pressures - valve areas - cardiac output - cardiac chambers - gradients and flow assessments
• Requires comprehensive knowledge of cardiac anatomy and disease states - and the ability to skillfully use all echo modalities with assist as indicated
• Makes initial interpretation of data to perform complete exams and alerts the physician if necessary
• Enters the data in the cardiac echo reporting system
• Maintains records of patients' examinations and provides input for the scheduling of exams as necessary
• Keeps current on continuing education and CPR
• Reviews new developments in the field and participates in making recommendations on changes that would improve operation of the section
• Cleans - maintains - prepares - and calibrates the transesophageal echo probes and echo machines
• Observes hospital policies related to isolation and universal body fluid precautions
• Assist the physician during transesophageal echoes in Cardiology and in the Operating Room as requested
• Assists during echo-guided pericardiocentesis
• This procedure and presence in surgery requires knowledge of sterile technique
• Makes multiple simultaneous changes in settings and adjustments in operation of equipment during an exam to ensure accurate results
• On the basis of ultrasound findings - individualizes exam with assistance as necessary
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 7:30am - 4pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP): This occupational series is eligible for the SLRP
• Funding is limited and on a first-come - first-served basis
• SLRP is an incentive - not a benefit
• It is dispersed as a one-time lump sum payment or bi-weekly payments
• The total lifetime gross amount for student loan repayments that may by authorized on behalf of an employee is $100 -000 in lifetime awards
• Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program
• Contact [e-mail] for more information.