Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiograph)

Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiograph)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): San Antonio, Texas

Salary Range: $71704 - $93213 Per Year

Job Summary: Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) operates independently and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Non-Invasive Cardiac Laboratory (NICL). The procedures are performed upon patients who have diagnoses of congenital heart disease, congestive heart disease, acquired heart disease, and coronary artery disease.

Major Duties:

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order 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 echocardiography following lAC guidelines. Plans and assists in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program. Technician will Implement quality assurance, improvement programs, and policies. Knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Knowledge of the physics of ultrasound and the principles of instrumentation of sonography to include pulsed and continuous wave doppler. Knowledge of cardiac electrophysiology and normal and abnormal ECG morphology. Ability to perform diagnostic cardiac ultrasound: m-mode, two-dimensional ultrasound contrast diagnostic ultrasound and bubble studies. Ability to perform cardiac pulsed and continuous wave ultrasound doppler to identify and characterize intra-cardiac blood flow patterns Develops and maintains patient preparation procedures so that patients and wards understand the proper preparations for ultrasound examinations to minimize delays of examinations. Explains the purpose and requirements of the examination to be performed to the patient so that the patient understands it, thoroughly. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures, and rearrange patients scheduled to accommodate emergent / STAT exams. Demonstrates potential ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training for physicians, students, and other technicians so that these individuals may acquire an understanding of the principles of ultrasound and how it relates to other diagnostic exams. Understands and adheres to policies and procedures of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) and its subordinate entities. Performs diagnostic echo/procedures in a hospital setting (i.e., OR/MICU/CCU/Cath Lab. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1600 Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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. DoEd website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home 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". Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. 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 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. Examples of the GS-8 experience include: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and color flow Doppler imaging; Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases; Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart and valves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc.; Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography; Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order 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 Echocardiography. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. Ability to manage and supervise employees. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. Preferred Experience: 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 Sonographer (RDCS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLCS) and Advanced Cardia Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable. CPRS and VISTA proficiency is required. Bilingual a plus. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/28/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12838718. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-28