MIT (Echocardiography)

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Ability to performs 2D M-Mode continuous and pulse wave Doppler and color flow exam.
• Performs transthoracic examinations.
• Performs stress echocardiograms with and without pharmaceuticals.
• Assists physician of results of exam.
• Receives patients explains procedure and performs exam. Assist Cardiology Fellows in performing and interpreting echo exams. Independently setting calibrating and operating of machinery.
• Knowledge of normal echocardiography 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 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 echocardiography Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography (invasive) stress echocardiography and transesophogeal 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.
• Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure.
• Ability to follow policy for sterilization process for TEE probes.
• Ability to complete diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physician on all tours of duty with minimal or no direct supervision; coordinates appointments/ workload according to appropriateness of patients/ staffing.
• Ability to accept verbal orders and record entries into the patients medical record for the procedure performed. The complying of data revising reports and completing reports for physician review.
• Ability to manage Echocardiography images in Xcelera and copy to CD.
• Triages inpatient procedure request on a daily basis. Assist with Holter and Event monitoring placement and management at Huntsville locations.
• Complete encounters on all Echos performed using the correct CPT codes diagnosis service connection status and other fields as required and assists management in overall encounter practices in Echo laboratory.
• Performs quality assurance reviews on Echo equipment and processes
• Precepts new staff and cardiology trainees in their development of echocardiology image skills
• Performs Dys-synchrony evaluations and assists in the timing delays for Bi-ventricular pacing.
• Visualization of all cardiac chambers valves and vessels with appropriate structural and blood flow measurement should be provided using a standardized addition the cardiac sonographer must have several important communications and basic safety-related skills.
• The operator must be able to properly display cardiac and/or vascular structures and blood flow in each of the imaging views. Echocardiography technologist must demonstrate proficiency in the performance of two-dimensional M-mode and Doppler(pulsed wave continuous wave and color flow) echocardiographic diagnostic procedures.
• In cooperation with management and the Cardiologists analyzes and prioritizes equipment needs for the Echocardiographic Laboratory.
• Serves as a consultant to the other health care professionals related to Echo procedures.
• Assist billing and coding with interpretation of exams and follow up on outstanding billing and coding issues.
• Performs digital image management and acts as a Super User for imaging storage system.
• Performs transducer positioning instrument controls and examination techniques to the individual patient and to the pathology to be evaluated.

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.

GS-06: To meet the requirements for the GS-6 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge skills abilities and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be addition the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.

2. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.

3. Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.

4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized routine procedures.

5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.

GS-07: To meet the requirements for the GS-7 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess at least 1 year of specialized experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge skills abilities and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and addition the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.

2. Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems i.e. valvular dysfunction myocardial wall kinesia effusions endocardial lesions etc.

3. Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.

4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex but standardized procedures.

GS-08: To meet the requirements for the GS-7 grade level MIT (Echocardiography) do you possess at least 1 year of specialized experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge skills abilities and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and addition the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode two-dimensional pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display and colorflow Doppler imaging.

2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.

3. 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.

4. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography (invasive) stress echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography.

5. 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.

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.
• 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).