Summary

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N)
• NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program - OR Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) - or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) - culminating in a certificate - associate - baccalaureate - or master's degree
• Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety - instrumentation - clinical procedures - and radio-pharmacy - as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB
• Loss of Credential: Once certified - NMTs must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted certification
• Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - of this part
• Grade Determinations: Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Multi-Modality Technologist) GS-11 Experience
• For assignments above the journey level - the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the journey level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• NMTs at this level are fully functional as an advanced NMT and carry out their assigned tasks independently
• NMTs in this assignment perform fusion imaging such as PET/CT - SPECT/CT and/or PET/MR procedures that include diagnostic nuclear medicine - CT - and/or MR fused images
• Multi-modality technologists must hold appropriate specific certifications in nuclear medicine (NMTCB or ARRT(N)) - as well as CT (NMTCB(CT)) or ARRT (CT)) - and/or MR (ARRT (MR)) applicable to independently perform the assignment duties
• They carry out these complex assignments independently as part of nuclear medicine procedures
• Assignments may include injection of contrast and recognition of allergic reaction - contraindications - and medication interactions
• The work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform at this level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: i
• Knowledge of contrast media - side effects - medication allergic reactions - drug interactions - and extravasation assessment
• ii
• Skill to differentiate multi-modality protocols and adjust protocols according to patient needs - body mass index - or area of interest
• iii
• Knowledge of unique scanning and processing parameters required of multimodality imaging
• iv
• Ability to troubleshoot and make simple repairs to PET/CT and/or PET/MR imaging systems
• v
• Ability to care for patients during all stages of the procedure and provide emergency response care when necessary
• vi
• Knowledge of all contraindications for performing CT and/or MR scans
• Physical Requirements: This work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs) - light carrying (under 15lbs) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing - kneeling - repeated bending - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors are working with radiant energy - electrical energy - working around machinery with moving parts - and working in a "hot lab" with radiopharmaceuticals.

Duties

• The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Multi-Modality Technologist) has responsibility for performing a wide range of specialized clinical procedures using radioactive materials at a higher level of duties which consists of significant scope and complexity - ranging in a wide variety
• This assignment performs fusion imaging such as complex PET-CT procedures - diagnostic imaging in general Nuclear Medicine - stress testing and SPECTCT imaging in Nuclear Cardiology - radionuclide therapy for various cancers
• operation and required quality assurance of various gamma cameras - PET-CT scanner - and monitoring instrumentation
• working within radiation safety guidelines of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) - Department of Transportation (DOT) - National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) - Joint Commission - among others
• Incumbent may be required to perform some diagnostic CT duties
• These complex assignments are carried out independently
• This Multi-Modality Technologist must hold appropriate specific certification in nuclear medicine (NMTCB or ARRT(N)) - as well as CT (NMTCB(CT) or ARRT (CT)) and/or MR (ARRT (MR)) applicable to independently perform the assignment duties
• Assignments may include injection of contrast and recognition of allergic reaction - contraindications - and medication interactions
• Serves as a technologist for the PET/CT modality - performing daily and periodic quality control testing of PET/CT scanner (and other supporting equipment) - organizing workflow - and performing patient studies
• Receives patient - explains procedure - answers questions relating to the procedure - positions patient for all necessary views and tends to patient comfort
• Obtains clinical data from the patient - electronic chart - requisition - and interviewing the patient and/or family for choosing appropriate imaging protocol
• Qualified to obtain patient blood glucose level prior to injecting imaging tracer to determine if scan is appropriate based on that level
• Routinely passes quality control testing to stay current on operating glucometer
• Performs daily quality control test to check glucometer accuracy
• Prepares - assays - and administers F-18 FDG or other prescribed positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals - recording - patient and dose parameters essential to interpretation of scan
• Under radiologist supervision - administers IV contrast to enhance CT images after reviewing patient chart for contraindications and renal lab values (impaired renal function or hypersensitivity)
• Utilizes knowledge and proficiency in the performance of CT scans with optimization of scanning parameters (mA - kVp - pitch - FOV - etc)
• Documents on the use of CT contrast - including any allergic reactions - on all paperwork and in the computerized patient data system (i.e
• CPRS)
• Prepares studies for nuclear medicine physician's and general radiologist's interpretation by ensuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure - processing - and transmitting images to fusion workstation/PACS
• Troubleshoot clinical and/or instrumentation problems with the PET-CT modality - interfacing with biomedical engineering as necessary
• Instructs nuclear medicine students - radiology students - new technologists - residents - and others on techniques - procedures - and equipment use
• along with motivating all to obtain a greater knowledge of the field of nuclear medicine
• Maintains PET hot lab with prescribed dose calibrator quality assurance and stocking of supplies
• Properly uses and maintains quality assurance of the PET F-18 injector - Medrad Intego
• Displays thorough knowledge of molecular level physiological function that relates to glucose metabolism - blood flow - and 3-D anatomy
• Receives extensive training and education on scanners through onsite training
• Is responsible for researching and developing new protocols as required for expansion of PET-CT procedures (example: cardiology - radiation therapy planning - NaF bone imaging)
• Provides patient studies to the oncology department and tumor board for therapy planning and tracking of disease progression Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am-4:00pm with rotating on call Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized