Summary

This position is located in Surgical Care Service. Medical Instrument Technicians (Vascular) operate state of the arts diagnostic imaging equipment using ultrasound to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow - blood pressure - limb volume changes - cerebral circulation - peripheral circulation - and abdominal circulation.

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
• Grade Determinations: For the GS-8 position: Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7) - which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 - and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation
• 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 specific waveform analysis - plethysmographic tracings - velocity changes - and pressure gradients characteristic of normal - obstructed - or occluded vessels or grafts
• Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency - Doppler angle - focal zones - gain - depth - color map - wall filter - and sample volume
• Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease Preferred Experience: Bachelor's Degree or two years college course work in Business/Healthcare or graduate of approved program in Ultrasound Technology vascular specific
• Preferred Experience: The vascular lab technologists will assist the vascular surgeons at the VA Medical Center in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of disorders affecting the vascular system
• The vascular lab technicians provide carotid studies - consistent diagnosis criteria and quality control for venous duplex scans - venous reflux determinations - assess for stenosis or occlusion of the mesenteric and renal arteries - assess for DVT of the upper extremities - preoperative vein mapping - intraoperative assessment of carotid endarterectomies and lower extremity vein bypasses - surveillance of vein bypass grafts - and segmented arterial pressure and waveform analysis with formal interpretation
• The vascular lab technologists are an integral part of the vascular surgery program
• 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-09
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08.

Duties

• The duties of this position include but are not limited to: Performs highly specialized/complex or difficult examinations utilizing B-mode - 2 dimensional ultrasound - Color Doppler and Pulsed Wave Doppler measurements
• Performs studies such as - ABIs/arterial waveforms - carotid duplex - peripheral arterial duplex of native arteries and bypass grafts - AAA studies - EVAR duplex - AV Fistula/graft duplex - renal mesenteric duplex and venous studies
• Triage vascular lab order/procedure request - patient condition to ensure appropriate vascular examination
• Obtain a brief history and physical pertinent to a peripheral vascular disease with familiarity with the associated signs and symptoms
• Independently make standard examinations and makes more in-depth examinations when abnormalities are present
• Advises the vascular physician and ordering provider of preliminary results of the exam - recognizing significant findings that require emergent care and relaying information to insure proper treatment
• Correlates findings of non-invasive examinations with findings of other radiologic diagnostic procedures
• Ensures the accurate evaluation of results of ultrasound studies and appropriate recommendations for further vascular laboratory diagnostic procedures
• Generates accurate preliminary reports complete with supporting documentation (images) in a timely manner for reading physician's review
• Communicates urgent /critical - preliminary findings in accordance vascular lab policy
• Works with patients who are seriously ill and those who have varying degrees of physical disabilities and medical problems
• Assists vascular surgeon in operating room for vascular access - duplex imaging guidance for advance endovascular procedures and emergent post op procedures as requested
• Reviews - evaluates and participates in the continuing education programs and refers to pertinent clinical literature with regards to improving the quality of examinations
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 0800-1630 - Monday - Friday - Rotating call on Nights - Weekends - and Holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.