Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System is currently recruiting one Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) to provide care to our Veterans as part of Diagnostic Imaging Service in Lawton - Oklahoma.

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: Be a Citizen of the United States
• 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"
• 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
• 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
• 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-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 (a) 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 (b) Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral - renal artery - aortic aneurysm - portalsystemic shunts - etc (c) Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location - depth - and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled (d) Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations
• Certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable
• Preferred Experience: Certification by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirable
• 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. Physical Requirements: Some bending and carrying of moderately heavy articles
• Some pushing and pulling
• Patients sometimes are assisted to achieve proper positioning which may require reaching or work in strained positions
• Reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - good dexterity (both hands required) - prolonged walking - prolonged standing - repeated bending - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 - ability to distinguish basic colors - speed in working - and emotional stability.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Prepare exam room and ultrasound equipment to conduct routine and complex sonography examinations in accordance with infectious disease - sterilization - and patient safety protocols - policies - and procedures
• Ensure room is properly stocked and ready each day
• Assume responsibility for the safety of the patient during the sonographic examination
• Utilizes cross sectional and structural anatomy and physiology to perform examinations
• Prepares for examinations by reviewing patient history - prior imaging studies i.e.: CT - MRI - and prior ultrasound
• Evaluate any contraindications - insufficient patient preparation - and the patient's inability or unwillingness to tolerate the examination and associated procedures
• Use proper patient positioning tools - devices - equipment adjustment - and ergonomically correct scanning techniques to ensure patient comfort and safety - and to prevent compromised data acquisition and musculoskeletal injury to the sonographer
• Utilizes patient position - scan plane - transducer type - measurements - and Doppler to acquire diagnostic images
• Perform the diagnostic medical sonography examination ordered by the physician in accordance with professional and facility protocols - which includes but not limited to abdomen - Doppler examination of intra- abdominal blood vessels - pelvis - superficial structures - soft tissue - scrotum - and head/neck within the department or as a portable
• Provides diagnostic images by recognizing normal anatomy versus pathology for all examination types including disease processes
• Assists the radiologist with procedures such as biopsies - paracentesis and thoracentesis utilizing sterile technique
• Determine depth - location and required needle angle for procedure
• Confers and works under direction of the radiologist/physician when performing complex examinations such as renal cyst punctures - organ biopsies and fluid aspiration - as well as intraoperative procedures
• Apply independent - professional - ethical judgment - and critical thinking to safely perform diagnostic sonography procedures
• Apply independent judgment during the sonography examination to ensure that appropriate anatomical - pathological - and clinical conditions are accurately captured in the examination images
• Ensure that sonography examination results meet the facility standards for Quality Assurance before findings are released for interpretation
• Performs irregular stand-by duty on a rotational basis to provide 24-hour hospital coverage
• This requires the technologist to be available within 30 minutes from receipt of call so that proper and effective emergency care is provided to the patient
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm 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) 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 #: 51641-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized