Medical Instrument Technician - Vascular

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 A. United States Citizenship : You must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.

S.C. 7407(a). B. English Proficiency : Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.

S.C. 7402(d). C. Grandfathering Provision : 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).

D. Certifications : Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) is highly desirable.

Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. E. Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements.

Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) GS-9 : Experience : At least 1 year of 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 the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and / or guidance to other technicians.

The KSA's at the GS-8 level are : 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.

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.

Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations. 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.

Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities : In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*) : 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 vascular ultrasonography.

Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

NOTE : all KSAs must be clearly displayed in resume - (assumptions will not be made) F. References : VA Handbook 5005 / 15 PART II APPENDIX G27, Medical Instrument Technician, dated March 17, 2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. G. Physical Requirements / Demands : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

This position requires to be able to stand or walk for long periods of time period there is some bending and carrying of moderately heavy articles such as equipment or records.

The technologist must be able to help lift and move patients to difficult positions on the radio graphic table. The incumbent will be using multiple computer systems using both mouse and keyboard input, stressing the hand or wrist.