Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Full Job Description

The Miami VA Healthcare System is seeking two Medical Instrument Technicians (Echocardiography) within the Nursing Specialty Section, Nursing Ambulatory Service.

One position is located in Miami, Florida, and one in Broward County.

The MIT performs echocardiographic procedures, providing physicians with critical diagnostic data for patient care and treatment while supporting clinical services through accurate imaging and technical expertise for cardiovascular evaluations.

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

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: GS-6: To meet the requirements for the GS-6 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess 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.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.

Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.

Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.

Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures.

Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.

Assignment: Echocardiography technician assignments at this level involve performing routine, standardized cardiac ultrasound examinations under the supervision of a fully qualified cardiac sonographer.

The work involves generating adequate gray scale images to define cardiac borders and learning to perform Doppler integration of cardiac valves for determination of flow velocities.

GS-7 Experience: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-6) 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 individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.

Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.

Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures.

Assignment: At this level, medical instrument technicians (echocardiography) perform a range of standard, but complex, echocardiographic examinations with responsibility for calibrating all instruments prior to the procedure.

They are expected to keep an accurate record of tests, daily logs, and videotapes. They maintain cidex logs.

GS-8 Experience: At least one 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 echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow 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.

Assignment: This represents the full performance level.

Echocardiography technicians at this level identify and record anomalies indicative of disease, injury, or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler.

They incorporate the causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination. GS-9 . Full Performance Level (FPL).

Experience: At least one 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 and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):.

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.

Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Preferred Experience: Two Years of recent Echo Lab Technician experience in a moderate to high complexity facility.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of the position (i.e.

standing, bending, stooping, sitting, pulling, pushing, etc.) Requires standing, bending stooping, sitting, pulling and pushing patients must be able to perform gross and fine coordinated hand movements.

Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Echocardiography Technician functions independently as a member of the cardiovascular lab under the supervision of the nurse manager.

The technician works with the patient care team that includes registered nurses, cardiovascular technologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other providers.

The incumbent is responsible for assisting to develop and implement systems to assure the smooth and efficient flow of patients for procedures in the Cardiovascular Lab.

The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)does basic preliminary report InXcelera for Echo procedures completed.

Echo Techs that regularly rotate In Broward (William Kling) Clinic evaluates (Triage)Broward Clinic patients if their Echo is needed to be done at Miami VA for Contrast Echo o Bubble Study.

Contrast guidelines may include: CABG1 Obesity, Severe COPD, Severe Aortic Stenosis, Heart Valve Replc1cement, CHF, etc, or suspect PFO/ Stroke for Bubble study.

Educate and help train Cardiology fellows and Residents about Echocardiography.

Educate them on the transducer location for different Echographic views and the knobology location of the Ultrasound machine.

Teach them knobology, optimization for different procedures such as Stress Echo, Contrast, Bubble studies, etc.

he Medical Instrument ·Technician (Echocardiography) has the ability to produce diagnostic quality Images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode,two0dimenslonal1 (3D) three-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and color flow.

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 pericardia I effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.

The incumbent performing measurements of cardiac structures and Doppler blood flow velocities using the software on the echocardiography machine and image · analysis · ·workstation.

This Includes but not limited to: 1) Color flow of mitral, aortic, tricuspid and· pulmonic valves.

2) M-Mode, Continuous Wave and Pulsed Wave Doppler tracing and measurements of mitral, aortic, tricuspid and pulmonic valves.

3) Tissue Doppler 4) Strain rate 5) Calculating aortic ·and mitral valve area 7) Cardiac output8) Computer image processing of digital data 9) Right ventricular Systolic Pressure 10) Right Ventricular strain.

11) Bl-plane (modified Simpson's rule) Imaging 12) Set up patients for Stress Echo. Operates continuous wave doppler with color flow mapping.

Trains other staff including physicians and medical students, relevant to ultrasound such as appearance and functions of various systems and the physical abnormalities.

Performs basic maintenance of ultrasound equipment on a regular basis and notifies supervisor of any equipment problems. Maintains adequate stock of equipment.

Consults with cardiologist and/or physician regarding interpretation of echo testing results. Schedules and prioritizes patients for echocardiograms studies.

Screens echo consults to determine if patient requires urgent evaluation. Maintains patient log upon completion of exam. Labels videotape of completed exam.

Provides a preliminary report of the echocardiogram prior to review by cardiologist and/or physician.

Files completed reports in appropriate locations and maintains a copy of all exams within the Cardiopulmonary Department.

Receives information and keep abreast of new developments in the field and makes recommendations as to how improvements might be made to operate the section.

Other tasks/duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #:30357F Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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.

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) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.