Medical Instrument Technician - Echocardiography

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Advanced Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) at the VA Portland Health Care System provides expert cardiac ultrasound services in inpatient and outpatient settings. The role includes mentoring staff, ensuring exam quality, and maintaining strict safety and regulatory compliance within Cardiology Support Services.

GS-9 level duties emphasize lead or specialized assignments, with strong emphasis on knowledge, training, and coordination of echo procedures and patient care across

Qualifications

• No specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• KSAs include knowledge of echocardiography procedures and regulatory standards.
• Strong communication and staff training abilities are expected.

Responsibilities

• Maintain technical quality of own work and mentor lower-level staff.
• Arrange scheduling for inpatients and outpatients and meet exam timeframes.
• Perform specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations (transthoracic, transesophageal, stress Echo).
• Explain procedures to patients and ensure safety and proper positioning.
• Follow safety guidelines, equipment maintenance, and regulatory expectations.

Skills

Echocardiography

Communication skills

Staff training

Education

No specific education requirements

Job description

Summary

The Advanced Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) works for the Cardiology Support Services within the Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine at the VA Portland Health Care System. The advanced MIT independently performs a full range of complex cardiac ultrasound procedures in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Qualifications

• 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
• 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"
• 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 following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) - 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 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
• Special Assignments
• Non-supervisory echocardiography technicians may have assignments that because of their nature substantially exceed the full performance level
• The Professional Standards Board will review proposed non-supervisory special assignments for the GS-9 level and make a determination regarding their appropriateness
• These assignments are expected to be relatively few in number and must represent substantial additional responsibility over the full performance level
• Preferred Experience: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer or Registered Cardiac Sonographer is strongly preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Functions/Scope of Practice: The incumbent is responsible for the technical quality of their own work - as well as the work performed by lower-level staff in the department
• They will mentor - assist - and provide expert training in department functions - including but not limited to established work standards - examination techniques - urgent evaluation response - unusual findings - challenging or difficult situations - SOPs and all regulatory expectations
• The incumbent arranges scheduling for both inpatients and outpatients - and ensures all exams are accomplished within the established time frames
• They will appropriately triage all critical exam requests - direct tasks to facilitate urgent completion and processing of exam and alert the appropriate personnel to available results and reports if necessary
• The incumbent possesses specialized knowledge - skills - and abilities to obtain diagnostic information in unusual - difficult - and challenging situations
• They will utilize all safety equipment available when needed - including PPE and all safe patient handling and mobility aids - such as ceilings lifts and slide mats
• The incumbent will ask for assistance or stop until assistance is available if the situation is unsafe
• The incumbent clearly explains the purpose and method of the procedure in a manner that the patient understands and positions the patient safely in accordance with patient limitations
• The incumbent performs specialized cardiac ultrasound examinations - including but not limited to transthoracic echocardiogram - transesophageal echocardiogram - exercise stress echocardiogram - pharmacological stress echocardiogram - ultrasound enhancing agent echocardiogram and agitated bubble study echocardiogram
• For every exam - the incumbent will: Prepare room and assemble all necessary supplies and equipment Acquire high quality - diagnostic images and all required measurements Expertly apply all imaging modalities - including but not limited to 2D - 3D - PWD - CWD - non-imaging Doppler - Strain - and TDI Maintain strict compliance with all environmental guidelines including equipment - reusable medical equipment - supply - and room maintenance and cleanliness
• For certain exams - the incumbent performs - and mentors/trains others to: Obtain - monitor - and document patient vital signs Perform procedural time-outs Discuss and document contraindications for echo enhancing agents or agitated saline bubble studies Obtain and maintain proper access for agitated saline and/or echo enhancing agent injection Administer agitated saline and ultrasound enhancing agents based on physician orders and all established guidelines - SOPs and protocols Properly report and document any adverse effects caused by agitated saline or echo enhancing agent injection
• Work Schedule: Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday - 5:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized