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The Durham NC VA Health Care System has an immediate opening for a Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) within the Imaging Service. The incumbent performs the most complex ultrasound examinations. The responsibilities of this position are to perform a variety of ultrasonic technical studies in the application of non-ionization high frequency waves to patients for diagnosis of disease and other abnormalities and assist physicians during interventional procedures. 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. Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. 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". 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). Preferred Experience: Preferred Experience: American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications is HIGHLY PREFERRED. Creditable Experience - Knowledge of Current Medical Instrument Technician Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current Medical Instrument Technician practice appropriate to the identified specialty area.[Specialized developmental experience obtained under supervision of appropriately certified individuals maybe credited at higher levels and is addressed in individual appendices.] Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position/specialty to be filled. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the criteria discussed in the applicable headings, or that defined in the appendices, must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Education/Training. To be creditable education must have been gained in an accredited Community College, College, or University.[(1) Training.] Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, and/or training under physicians certified in the functional area will be allowed on a month-for-month basis through the GS-5 level. [(2)] Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. GS-6(a) Experience. 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: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy in order to receive and interpret physician requests for routine, standardized ultrasonography procedures. 2. Knowledge of tissue harmonics and soundwave propagation within the body to adjust TGC (Time Gain Compensation) for optimal image quality. 3. Knowledge of the physics of velocity, frequency of soundwaves, and their physical properties. 4. 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. 5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure. GS-7(a) Experience. 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. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized diagnostic ultrasonography examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. 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. 2. Knowledge of zoom, expansion, prospectus, color Doppler, and pulsed echo Doppler. 3. Knowledge of the digital transmission of images. 4. Ability to alter standard, but complex procedures and protocols to meet patient needs and physical limitations. GS-8(a) Experience. 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. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum. 2. Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal-systemic shunts, etc. 3. Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled. 4. Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations. Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/54 PART II APPENDIX G27 MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN 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 through GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing or walking for a major portion of the work day. The walking will often require carrying supplies or pushing carts and equipment. Standing will require holding patients or stocking supplies. This may occupy half of the work day and will hence be considered demanding physical activity. A certain mechanical dexterity is required in the replacement of parts and the repair of equipment to restore or maintain operability after faults are identified. Performance of duties will require a great amount of repetitive motion during the performance of the procedure. ["Applicants internal to the VA Agency please apply to announcement number 11600137 Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performing ultrasound examinations to include, but not limited to, the abdomen, neck, chest, extremities, pelvic/transvaginal, scrotum, breast and Vascular/Doppler studies to include DVT in upper and lower extremities for acquiring high quality examinations that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patient medical disorders. Performing independent portable ultrasound examinations throughout the Medical Center and occasional on call exams, or after-hours exams. Maintaining adequate supplies so that examinations are not delayed due to lack of necessary equipment and supplies. Effectively communicating with Radiologists. Handling secure processing of patient information as outlined by HIPAA and all other Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Performing routine housekeeping duties to assure that the ultrasound area is clean and sanitary. Assisting quality assurance technologists in performing quality assurance testing on ultrasound units using phantoms, test tools, tech check lists, etc., for the purpose of assuring peak performance of the ultrasound equipment. Independently performs a variety of routine and complex vascular examinations using pulse and continuous wave Doppler and color Doppler techniques such as lower & upper-extremity arterial duplex, lower & upper-extremity venous duplex to include abdominal aorta duplex, carotid-artery duplex, hemodialysis graft evaluation, venous mapping, and venous insufficiency scans in accordance with established practice guidelines. Adheres to established facility patient identification policy and procedures to ensure correct identification of all patients such that they are appropriately linked with their medical record and the services and treatments intended for them. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]