Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

The Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) performs diagnostic ultrasound under the general supervision of a staff radiologist and provides support for ultrasound-guided procedures. Exams are performed by protocol with tailoring as needed to document normal structures and pathology to best effect. Patient flow and timeliness of service are optimized. Clinical instruction of ultrasound students from the affiliate technical college is integrated with the daily workload.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinates a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the application of non-ionizing ultrasound waves for diagnosis of pathology in the clinic or on the inpatient unit.
• Comprehends and applies the principles of ultrasound and the specialized equipment well enough to essentially approve the acceptability or eliminability of each scan.
• Ability to control adjust controls on the ultrasound unit, which will affect time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, reflection, scattering, refraction and diffraction.
• They select between non-focused, fixed-focus, linear phased array and annular phased array and Doppler or Power Doppler. Performance of the examination requires proper alignment and position of the patient.
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam.
• Receives and identifies patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables, positions the patient and performs the requested examinations.
• Evaluate the urgency of the procedures requested and prioritizes the exams accordingly.
• Performs the study and records /prepares the processed media for interpretation by the Staff Radiologist.
• Maintain records of patients in the Vista radiology package.
• Schedules and prepares patients for exams and explains procedures to patients while performing the studies.
• Obtains pertinent clinical information regarding each patient for the physician, which may be necessary for interpretation of the ultrasound findings.
• Performs 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.
• Routinely performs vascular studies including central, peripheral and cerebral applications, ABI, arterial duplex, venous duplex, renal artery duplex, and visceral vascular exams of the abdomen.
• Takes blood pressure measurements of the upper and lower extremities, transcutaneous oximetry (tcpO2) to measure the metabolic state of the lower limb.
• Regularly performs preoperative upper and lower extremity vein mappings in preparation for vascular surgery.
• Assists radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled.
• Assists in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations. This requires performance and knowledge of sterile technique with strict enforcement.
• Differentiates artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes electronic equipment limitations.
• Recognizes what constitutes a complete diagnostic scan and consults with the staff Radiologist to determine the appropriateness of the exam when there is a question.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:30am -6:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
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)

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.
• 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).
Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation 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 licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
Employees 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. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:GS-09

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-08), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and/or guidance to other technicians.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*) KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment. Please reflect KSA's below in your resume of how they apply to your experience.
  • 1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to vascular ultrasonography.
  • 2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
  • 3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
  • *4. Ability to manage and supervise employees.
  • *5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.
• Certification. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.

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 a GS-09.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.