Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 14, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 01, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates starting May 1, 2024 and on the 1st of each month thereafter. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Basic Requirements : a. 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.) b. 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. c. 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". 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). Vascular Technicians or Vascular Sonographers operate diagnostic equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). Grade Determination. GS-8 (a) 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 which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation. 2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts. 3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations. 4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume. 5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease. (c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Preference : Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) References : VA HANDBOOK 5005 / 15 PART II APPENDIX G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 ["Major duties may include, but are not limited to : The Vascular Technologist coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-lonizing high frequency ultrasonic waves to humans for diagnosis of disease in the clinic or on the inpatient unit. Knows and understands the principles of ultrasound and the highly specialized equipment well enough to essentially approve the acceptability or rejectability of each scan. Controls technical factors on ultrasound unit, which will affect time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, reflection, scattering, refraction and diffraction. Selects between non-focused, fixed-focus, linear phased array and annular phased array and Doppler or Power Doppler. Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam. Receives and identities patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables, positions the patient and performs examinations requested. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate them. Performs vascular sonography studies, records as well as prepares the processed media for interpretation by the Staff Radiologist. S / he will maintain records of patients in the Vista radiology package. Schedules and prepares patients for exams and explains procedures to patients while performing the studies. Obtains pertinent diagnostic vascular examinations for the physician, which may be necessary for correlation between the ultrasound scan and the clinical history. Performs diagnostic examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum. S / he routinely performs vascular studies including central, peripheral and cerebral applications, TCD, Carotid, ABI, arterial duplex, venous duplex, renal artery duplex, and visceral vascular exams of the abdomen. Regularly performs preoperative upper and lower extremity vein mappings vascular surgeons, as well as chronic venous insufficiency studies. Assists radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled. Work Schedule : Monday - Friday | 0730-1600 or 0800-1630 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 existing pay, 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 $ 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 # : F00549 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report : Not Required."]