Summary The Primary Purpose of the Position is to serve as the Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound Special Assignments) responsible for the daily operations within the Ultrasound Section, Imaging Service. Performs Specialized Oversight Duties 25 percent and ultrasound scanning 75%. Functions as a principal ultrasound technologist with delegation, scheduling, and training authority over a group of General and Vascular Ultrasound Technologists. Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of the Medical Instrument Technologist (Ultrasound) include but are not limited to the following: The incumbent is required to: Work independently without supervision, performing 2-D ultrasound examinations of the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, scrotum, and extremities by the proper selection and manipulation of ultrasound transducers and appropriate adjustments of a variety of ultrasound parameters, 2 Utilize pulse-wave, color-flow or power Doppler technique during the evaluation of vascular structures, when appropriate, Assist in the performance of ultrasound guided core needle biopsy or fine needle aspiration procedures, Understand the proper use of all ultrasound equipment and be able to operate the equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, Follow established hospital and service procedures for confirming patient identification and correct patient examination, Ensure patient demographic data and exam information have been accurately entered into the ultrasound machine, Select appropriate ultrasound machine setup parameters depending on the specific organ system being interrogated, Explain the ultrasound test procedure to the patient, Instruct and assist the patient in assuming the proper position for examination, 1 Appropriately assess the patient for any pain during the procedure and provides this information to the attending radiologist in a timely manner, Select an appropriate transducer and adjust all equipment parameters according to the organ system being imaged and patient body habitus, Properly annotate selected ultrasound images with important normal or pathological findings, Discuss obtained exam images with the attending radiologist, as appropriate, Perform routine user preventive maintenance on equipment to ensure proper operation, Ensure assigned ultrasound room is clean and adequately stocked with appropriate supplies, Provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive and emotional needs of the adult or geriatric patient, and Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his or her assigned service areas The individual must also demonstrate basic knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possess the ability to provide care based upon age related factors as specified on the competency assessment checklist. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30a-4:00p Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. 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-10: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS 9), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled. Examples of qualifying experience are: anatomy and physiology such as location and appearance of the various major and minor systems susceptible to ultrasonic detection in order to interpret and perform the examination requested accurately; to understand the functioning and interrelationship of the various organs in the system in order to use methods and techniques which will emphasize aspects of particular interest to the doctor; and to identify the organs on the video screen or film and the various stages of the examination in order to judge the acceptability of the image for diagnostic use. sonographic techniques and principles including proper selection and use of machine transducers, machine query and retrieve functions, and proper adjustment of multiple machine parameters, including time-gain compensation controls, tissue harmonics, auto-optimization, system gain and dynamic range functions, focus point adjustments, caliper use, and vascular controls (pulse repetition frequency, wall filters, etc.). skill in positioning and preparing patients for a wide variety of difficult sonographic examinations. For example, in exams of the organs in the pelvis, much difficulty is encountered because the bladder has to be distended and there is always gas present in the bowel. This condition requires great dexterity with the transducer to adequately visualize the desired anatomy. departmental policies and procedures involved in the care of any emergency that arises involving a patient. business processes in the department such as scheduling and appropriately positioning patients. For example, the incumbent is required to work with the service's scheduling clerks in scheduling patient sonograms examinations. Review of the daily work is based on completed workload and the quality and acceptability of the finished sonograms. Preferred Experience: ARDMS Certification 1 or more year(s) experience Graduate from an accredited school Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The position is announced at the full performance level. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. 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. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.