Summary

The Diagnostic Imaging Service is seeking a full-time Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston South Carolina.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• Education
• Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the 2 equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program - evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree - accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE)
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA as a DRT 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 certification that are part of the basic requirements of the DRT occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) DRTs that require a certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) DRTs that require a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• (3) DRTs 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
• (4) DRTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (5) Employees who are retained as a DRT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a DRT
• Grade Determination GS-10 Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
• Assignment Advanced Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist
• Employees are trained to work in one or more difficult and complex modalities performing procedures related to these modalities as well as performing general diagnostic procedures
• At this grade level - any assignment in a single modality must demonstrate significant complexity
• Such assignments are unique - perhaps with expert specialization in complex areas of radiologic technology - Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) regulations - and intermediate QM type duties within the program
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of radiation protection standards - devices and techniques - including concepts of accumulated dosage - dose monitoring - and genetic changes
• Ability to utilize advanced imaging software that supports complex imaging programs and recognize changes in equipment and procedures that might result in increased exposures - and ability to recommend methods to prevent such exposures
• Knowledge of basic physics including concepts of energy - electric power - magnetic fields - and properties of x-ray - to understand the operation of the equipment
• Knowledge and skill in positioning of patients for a wide variety of highly complex imaging (CT - MRI - IR - ultrasound - mammography) studies
• Reference: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G25
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion
• It may require long periods of standing - walking and sitting
• It may involve frequent bending - twisting - lifting
• positioning patients
• and carrying - pushing - or pulling moderately heavy objects.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The ADRT at this level assists with routine to complex interventional/special procedures and examinations
• The incumbent works closely with radiologists - clinicians and other technologists and nursing staff to ensure optimum quality control - patient and room/supply preparation - high quality diagnostic/therapeutic exam results and high patient satisfaction
• Typical duties may include - but are not limited to: Assists with the preparation (such as setting up trays and preparing supplies and equipment) and completion (such as acting as circulating or scrub tech) of a wide variety of routine to complex interventional radiology exams with the use of fluoroscopy/angiography equipment - as well as Computed Tomography and Ultrasound guidance - either diagnostic or therapeutic - including but not limited to various tube - line - catheter and port placements - kyphoplasty - chemo embolization - fistulagrams - cerebral - visceral and/or peripheral angiography - Y90 - biopsies - aspirations - drainages - ablations
• Knowledgeable with the selection - preparation - and use of a wide variety of supplies and instruments necessary for the performance of exams - including but not limited to procedure trays - kits - access needles - syringes - catheters - tubes - balloons - stents - coils
• Performs majority of exams utilizing surgical sterile techniques - including sterile tray set up and maintaining sterile field
• Adheres to facility Infection Control policies
• Utilizes non-imaging equipment such as thrombectomy/atherectomy devices - ablation machines - and others as deemed necessary for successful performance of procedures and patient care
• Familiar with use of support software such as dose tracking (NexoDose) - implant storage/tracking (TrackCore) - scheduling/workflow management (HI-IQ)
• Performs computer work and ensures completion of required forms/tasks associated with patient exams - credit of patient visits including use of appropriate CPT codes - documenting complications - and quality improvement activities of the Radiology department
• Registers and cases patient requests in a timely manner
• Saves/records images and fluoroscopic runs - as necessary - performs pertinent post-processing and prepares processed media for interpretation by radiologist
• Assures images are properly identified with patient demographics - annotations - and verifies archiving on PACS
• Reviews incoming routine - urgent or emergent requests and coordinates scheduling or rearranging of priorities with Interventional Radiologists and nursing staff
• Receives and identifies patients using at least two patient identifiers - assists with preparing patients for exams and explaining procedures - assists with movement of patients to and from exam table - positions the patient - sets up and adjusts all imaging equipment including appropriate selection of technical factors
• Maintains and stocks all supplies used in the work area - ensuring products are within expiration date and stored properly
• Reports equipment malfunctions in a timely manner to the supervisor and Biomedical Engineering - and is competent to enter service requests/workorders - as appropriate
• Reviews new developments in the field and recommends to supervisor those that would improve the operation of the section
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm - with rotating on-call
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: FS 61748 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized