Summary

The incumbent is a member of a cardiac catheterization team and independently carries out a variety of complex physiological and radiological procedures and performs highly invasive radiological - cardiovascular - intracoronary ultrasound and electrophysiology procedures in collaboration with the cardiologist.

Qualifications

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
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT) - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - [or Mammography (M) duties performed independently - as applicable]
• Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent [can operate independently] and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination
• [In modalities that require advanced certification - to support their continued development - technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist
• Education
• Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the 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).] Credentialing Standards
• Public Law 97-35 - the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 - requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75 - Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel
• Essentially - they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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: Specialized Assignments.:[Interventional Radiography (IR)
• Technologists working in this special assignment may function as vascular interventional (VI) - cardiac interventional (CI) and/or cardiovascular-interventional (CV) technologists which use specialized equipment to perform diagnostic angiographic procedures and complex vascular and nonvascular interventional and therapeutic procedures
• This specialty requires additional knowledge of vascular systems and major vessel anatomy
• The technologist must be knowledgeable in the specialized equipment employed for digital subtraction systems and interventional procedures
• The technologist administers contrast media under the supervision of the staff radiologist and confers with the radiologist to establish requirements regarding contrast agents - vital signs - medications - and physiologic monitoring to perform procedures
• IR technologist must be knowledgeable in digital imagining and PACS
• Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist - GS-9 Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently
• DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level - clinical instruction - and basic QM type duties within the program
• Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment - the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform at this level
• 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): *Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record - significant others - and health care providers
• *Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography
• Knowledge of physical assessment - aseptic techniques - intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions
• Knowledge of pre-procedural - procedural - and post-procedural care of patients
• 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-9. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/I-4ku5UMvWM Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
• Repayment is limited to $40 -000 annually - up to $100 -000 in lifetime awards
• Participants must sign a three-year service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program
• Contact VHAV23SLRP@va.gov for more information
• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Receives patients - explains procedures - positions the patient and makes necessary equipment adjustments
• Determines the critical isocenter value necessary for accurate exams Confers with cardiologists to establish requirements of non-standard examinations and determine technical factors - positioning and proper angulation to achieve optimum views of specific vessels and/or lesions
• Makes adjustments to equipment such as frame rates - exposure time - kV - mAs settings - shutter openings - cardiac shielding - magnification factors - source-intensifier distance etc
• Makes multiple - simultaneous adjustments in the operation of equipment to ensure the best images possible
• Performs preventative maintenance and determines when repair is needed Performs proper calibrations on pressure transducer to maintain the accuracy of arterial and venous pressure tracings Prepares radiological - ultrasound and specialized equipment used in electrophysiology - angiographic and angioplasty procedures Calculates ventricular function - coronary sizing and percent stenosis - and provides calculations for physicians as needed Maintains records of patients and examinations - digital disc archives - and radiographic film badge exposure and radiation safety equipment
• Keeps current on continuing education and CPR Reviews new developments in the field and makes recommendations to supervisor on changes that would improve the operation of the section
• Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00 pm OR 8:30am to 5:00pm - On Call Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized for Highly Qualified Individuals Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized