Individuals at this level plan and direct programs at affiliated medical centers and satellite outpatient clinics and have full supervisory responsibility for a large staff of non-supervisory personnel and at least one subordinate team leader or supervisor. 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: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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". 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS-10: Supervisory Echocardiography Technician. Individuals in this assignment assume full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the work of subordinate technicians. Typically these duties include assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; providing Echocardiography Technician services in more complex cases; reviewing and making recommendations regarding new and emerging procedures; providing instruction and training to new staff; interviewing candidates for positions; recommending selections, advancements, promotions; evaluating performance; taking disciplinary action when necessary; and identifying educational or training needs. GS-10: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-9 level, positions at this grade may be supervisory or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*) Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) GS -10 : Experience. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-9 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques. * Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program. * Ability to evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations. * Ability to manage the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (which would include fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. * Knowledge of and ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluation; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and, when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support(BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Some duties include but are not limited to: The Technician will participate as an instructor in the facility's clinical training program; make final decisions on selections based on recommendations from supervisors or leads; evaluate performance and complete monthly Sonographer Peer Reviews. The incumbent will review 3-5 studies performed by each sonographer on at minimum, a quarterly basis for protocol accuracy and technical competency. The technician will also supervise the technical performance and protocol adherence of all sonographers as needed on a daily basis. The Technician will take disciplinary action when necessary, enforce lab policies on performance, punctuality and efficiency, and make necessary interventions when needed. The Technician will identify educational and training needs of individual sonographers and the staff as a whole. Training should include education on specific clinical pathologies and corresponding protocol adjustments as well as education on new echo advancements, techniques and emerging technology. The Technician will monitor VA and CME training requirements for all subordinates. He/She will also coordinate Quality Assurance for the Technicians and Physicians to maintain accreditation through the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for the Echo Lab. This involves coordinating with lab physician, to conduct a quarterly meeting assessing lab quality control, including results correlation with cardiac cath and CMR and inter-reader reliability. He/She is also expected to perform, supervise, and provide technical advice regarding all procedures performed in the Echo labs. He/She will schedule patients, complete encounters, maintain and report lab statistics. The technician will be responsible for assuring that all patient's will be scheduled within 48 hours, all inpatients are read within 24 hours and emergent cases are dealt with promptly. The Technician will need the ability to build and maintain an Access Database for collecting and updating data for clinical projects. This includes creating forms and tables, entering data and running queries as needed. He/She will also need to create lab reports using Vista and Crystal Reports with Xcelera to monitor lab productivity and study accuracy, including checking incomplete encounters and consults, assessing patient wait time, report accuracy, scheduling turn around and study scanning turnaround time. The Technician will evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations and he/she will need to select appropriate clinical software and hardware to assure that the lab utilizes relevant new technology. The Technician will be responsible for learning to use new software and hardware as they are acquired through coordination with vendors and other education sources. The technician will also be responsible for coordinating and running in-services within the lab to orient the staff to new acquisitions. Work Schedule: Full Time, Mon-Fri Telework: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This position is covered by special salary rate Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus if needed. May be required to attend conferences at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current employees must submit copies of their most recent SF50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one Sf-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.-This position is in the Competitive service. Veteran's preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees"]

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