Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular Ultrasound)

Description:

This is a full-performance level position requiring advanced knowledge in vascular ultrasound. The medical instrument technician (vascular ultrasound) performs a wide range of diagnostic vascular ultrasound procedures, including complex and non-routine exams, and is expected to make adjustments to techniques for optimal diagnostic results.

This position is located at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.

Requirements:

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.

GS-8 Vascular Technician Qualifications

(a) Experience

• Must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS-7 level , which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for this grade.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Candidates must demonstrate all of the following:

• 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
  • Atherosclerotic plaque morphology

• 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:

  • Waveform analysis
  • Plethysmographic tracings
  • Velocity changes
  • Pressure gradients
  • Characteristics of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts

• Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations

• Ability to operate instruments to extract the highest quality image using appropriate:

  • Transducer frequency
  • Doppler angle
  • Focal zones
  • Gain
  • Depth
  • Color map
  • Wall filter
  • Sample volume

• Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease

(c) Certification:

• Not required , but highly desirable :
  • Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) - ARDMS
  • Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) - CCI
  • BCLS/ACLS certifications are also desirable

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).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.