This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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 by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology ARRT. Advanced certification is required; 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. (Certification required). English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both written and spoken English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 (d), and 7407 (d). Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate's degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT) 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 5, 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. Must have ARRT (R) certification (with Ultrasound experience). GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Radiologic Technology Practice. To be creditable, experience must have demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (also referred to as clinical competencies) associated with current radiologic technology practice. This may have been evidenced by the equivalent of 1 year of active practice, which is paid or non-paid employment as a DRT as defined by ARRT. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was earned after completion of the basic certification requirements identified in paragraph 2b above. Experience as a graduate DRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a DRT and subsequently passed the certification examination.(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a DRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a DRT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Specialized Assignments: Ultrasound (Diagnostic/Vascular) Sonography) (S), (VS). Positions should be assigned to the DRT, GS-0647 series, when both ultrasound and other modalities which require the delivery of ionizing radiation are performed. Positions in which ultrasound duties are performed exclusively (no other modalities are performed), should be assigned to the medical instrument technician, GS-649 series, since ultrasound duties solely do not require the delivery of ionizing radiation. Diagnostic ultrasound uses high frequency sound wavers and other diagnostic techniques for medical purposes. The practitioner must be competent in the production, uses, recognition, and analysis of ultrasound images and patterns used for patient diagnosis and treatment. The sonographer is regarded as the expert source of all ultrasound imaging, and the interpreting radiologist relies heavily on the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the sonographers in providing a final interpretation. Within this specialization, there is a diverse range of ultrasound imaging sub-specialties. These include: Diagnostic medical sonography - abdominal, neurologic, obstetrical/gynecologic, musculoskeletal (MSK), a breast; and: Vascular sonography-arterial and venous doppler, spectral analysis, and calculating ankle brachial index (ABI). GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) (Ultrasound) - GS-9 (Full Performance Level) Experience: All applicants must have at east one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-08 in the federal government. Example of qualifying specialized experience (this experience must be clearly detailed on your resume to be found qualified): consists of experience directly related to DRT Ultrasound and may have been acquired through operating, supervising the operation of, or instructing the operation of equipment related to Ultrasound. Certification. In addition to DRT basic requirements and experience equivalent to the GS-8, ARRT certification is required for Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (Ultrasound) assignments. Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSA). You 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. Skill to demonstrate appropriate techniques to gather 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. (Your experience must be detailed in your résumé to receive full credit.) References: VA Handbook 5005/119, Part II, Appendix G25 dated December 13, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) assignments at this level are above the full performance level, performing the full range of duties. Independently perform diagnostic radiography and CT procedures in order to achieve proper diagnosis and treatment. Schedule patients for examinations, evaluate the nature of critical and emergency procedures, and rearrange patient schedule to accommodate these procedures. This is a dual-modality position that is subject to on-call, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays in order to meet clinical needs. DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHY:\na. Perform diagnostic radiography examinations of head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine, and extremities. These exams are performed with and/or without the use of IV or oral contrast materials. b. Perform technical work in support of diagnostic radiography under the direction of a physician, including complex radiographic examinations such as UGI, BE, and Arthrograms. The examinations involve several different processes and methods and require performance of a variety of duties. c. Operate radiology equipment to determine technical factors (i.e. calculates the correct exposure factors of time, distance, kilovoltage, and milliamperage), set controls and operate equipment ensuring that the portion of the body specified receives the correct calculated exposure. Set up and adjust accessary equipment required and makes exposures necessary for requested procedures. d. Set up the x-ray room, assure sterile supplies, local anesthetics, contrast materials, catheters, and other required equipment are present. e. Properly identify patient images. The technologist must ensure that the patient I.D. band and the request are identical. Confirm patient identity by two (2) identifiers (i.e., full name, full social security number and/or date of birth). f. Have knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location, appearance, and functioning of the major and minor systems and changes to organs caused by common diseases. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY:\na. Perform CT examinations of head, chest, abdomen, spine, pelvis, and extremities. These exams are performed with and/or without the use of IV or oral contrast materials. b. Perform CT angiography of head, neck, chest abdomen, pelvis, and extremities with IV contrast utilizing pressure injector. c. Prepare IV contrast materials for CT exams. The technologist must understand contraindications for IV contrast (i.e. lab values and medications). Monitor patient after IV injection and be able to respond appropriately to contrast reaction. d. Perform CT reconstructions when requested or when part of a standard protocol. The technologist must possess the ability to operate 3D workstation to obtain 3D reformats. e. Receive requests or instructions for procedures from the Radiologist or medical officers. f. Independently explains procedures and positions patients for difficult procedures. Administers contrast materials orally, rectally, or intravenously. g. Responsible for stocking and inventory of all CT related materials. h. Operates radiology equipment including pressure injectors and patient monitors. Work Schedule: Sat & Sun 8:00 am - 8:00 pm & two 8-hour shifts during the week where needed. Position may be subject to rotating shifts to include weekends and holidays.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Keith Massengale, Keith.Massengale@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]