Medical Instrument Technician; Vascular

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular). The Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular) will function in Surgical Service.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship of the United States. Non‑citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3g – this part.
• 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.
• Grade Determination GS‑8 (This represents the full performance level).
• Experience:
  
  At least 1 year (12 months) of vascular ultrasound experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• Experience demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician.
• 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, pseudo aneurysms, 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.
• Certification:
  Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.
• Preferred Experience:
  
  The best qualified candidates for this position will have the following preferred experience:
  Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, registered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) as RVT (please provide license), graduate from an accredited vascular ultrasound program and registered as RVT through ARDMS (please provide transcripts).
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Requires long periods of standing, walking, bending, and moving of patients who are sometimes unconscious or disabled. Must pass pre‑employment physical and designated drug testing. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• References: VA 5005/15 Part II Appendix G27. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS‑8.

• This position is located in the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center – Surgical Service – Vascular Laboratory Section.
• Vascular technologists (sonographers) perform all examinations and assume responsibilities associated with the Vascular Lab.
• Perform non‑invasive examinations involving the application of high‑frequency ultrasound waves to humans for the diagnosis of disease.
• Perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra‑cranial cerebrovascular vessels, adapting procedures as needed.
• Perform high‑quality standardized and routine diagnostic vascular testing of the extremities, cerebrovascular, and abdominal vasculature using diagnostic ultrasound and plethysmography equipment.
• Perform additional testing including evaluation of arteriovenous fistulas, palmar arch studies, thoracic outlet syndrome evaluation, and ice‑water immersion; assist physicians with thrombin injections.
• Notify vascular surgeon or referring physician of significant abnormalities that require…