Career Center

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) functions as a member of the Cardiology multidisciplinary team and works in the Cardiology/Echo Section of the VA Medical Center.

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:

• Citizenship
• Citizenship of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) 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
• 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
• Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy or VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G27
• 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 (GS-8) - 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 and includes: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-Mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler special display - and color flow 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
• AND - 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation - see duty section for essential duties of this position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf **Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agencies should apply under CBST-12722410-25-LS.** This is an open continuous announcement
• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available
• Applications will remain on file until July 15 - 2025
• Duties performed include but are not limited to the following: Identifies and record anomalies of the heart indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant conditions from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
• Incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
• Change and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient presence of prosthetics or foreign objects - and ultrasonic response of different body parts
• Produce diagnostic quality images and doppler and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound
• Provides training and supervision of complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques
• Assists in performing Treadmill stress tests when available
• Assists with immediate patient management in cases of emergent echocardiographic findings
• Assists with immediate patient management in cardiology clinic when required per local site policies
• Teaches basic techniques to cardiology residents - fellows - and students assigned to the laboratory
• Performs preventive maintenance of the equipment and coordinates service with biomedical engineering including help with researching/obtaining quotes for parts/services needed
• Assists in writing Policies - Procedures and Protocol development
• Assists in performance of stress echocardiograms
• Assists in performance of contrast echocardiograms- Agitated sterile saline - contrast agents
• Ability of assisting cardiologist in performing transesophageal echocardiograms
• Performs Holters/Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring when available
• Assists in maintaining and ordering adequate supplies used in the Echo department
• Assist Medical Service with all cardiology clinic consultations tracking to include inpatients and outpatients consults
• Any other duty as assigned by the Cath Lab Supervisors and/or Chief of Cardiology
• Assists in the transport of patients when transportation services are not available Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 #: 00612-F