Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

The Medical Instrument Technician performs echocardiography studies (heart ultrasound) and records the procedure for interpretation by a cardiologist. This is a diagnostic ultrasound procedure to assess heart function and identify possible abnormalities to assist the cardiologist with determining the most appropriate treatment plan for the patient. Technician is responsible for ensuring all procedure images are properly filed and the final procedure reports are downloaded onto CPRS.

**Qualifications:**
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. 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 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-06. Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-05) GS-5 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions. 2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment. 3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities. 4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-07. Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations. GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-08. Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07). Experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases. GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. In addition to the above qualifications, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: GS-8 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. Preferred Experience: The technician needs to be proficient in performing echocardiographs, assisting with transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) and processing TEE scopes. Echocardiograph procedures include M-mode, two-dimensional color doppler. Certain areas of the heart may require focused images based on the consultation notes provided by the cardiologist. The technician must have a comprehensive knowledge of cross-sectional cardiac anatomy. 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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: : Light to moderate carrying up to 44 pounds, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulders, use of fingers and hands, walking, standing, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinating simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted). Mental and emotion stability required. Works closely with others or alone.