Summary

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. Program 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.

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
• 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 Department of Education - and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Diagnostic Radiologic Technologists in the Cardiac Cath Lab use specialized equipment to perform diagnostic angiographic procedures and complex vascular and nonvascular interventional and therapeutic procedures
• The technologist works with a physician to complete both diagnostic and interventional invasive cardiac - peripheral and electrophysiology procedures including: LHC - RHC - PTCAs - PTAs - stent placement - IABP - IVUS - pressure wires - pericardiocentesis - temporary pacemakers - radial artery procedures - permanent pacemaker placement and AICD placement
• Monitors the progression of procedures requiring independent judgment and anticipate need to provide specific instrument and/or catheters
• This specialty requires additional knowledge of vascular and coronary anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function
• The technologist must be knowledgeable in the specialized equipment employed for digital subtraction systems and interventional procedures
• They are responsible for adhering to all departmental - service - hospital - agency - and national regulations and policies
• The technologist will be permitted work in radiology during nonprocedural days permitting all obligations and duties are fulfilled
• DRTs must be knowledgeable in Computerized Radiography (CR) and Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS)
• Grade Determinations:GS-9(1) 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
• (2) Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• DRTs at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments:(a) [Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist]
• 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
• The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): i
• *Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures
• ii
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record - significant others - and health care providers
• iii
• *Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure
• iv
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography
• v
• Knowledge of physical assessment - aseptic techniques - intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions
• vi
• 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-09 Physical Requirements: A health examination must be successfully complete prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Employee Health Clinic policy.

Duties

• VA Careers - Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist: https://youtube.com/embed/I-4ku5UMvWM Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include - but are not limited to: a
• Ability to scrub - circulate - and monitor advanced procedures to include intravascular ultrasound - iFR/FFR - permanent pacemaker insertions and AICD insertions
• Prepares contrast materials under the direction of the physician for the purpose of performing exams requiring injectable solutions
• These contrast materials and the radiographer must know their effects and adverse reactions
• Improper use or administration of the contrast materials run the risk of patient mortality - therefore - it is essential that a thorough understanding of usage be possessed by those who prepare it
• Must be continuously on the alert to the patient's condition and other disorders
• Adverse reactions on the part of the patient require immediate attention so that harm does not come to the patient or equipment
• b
• Advanced knowledge of equipment - medications - and supplies used in the Cardiac Cath Lab and the ability to set-up - calibrate - operate - and troubleshoot this equipment
• c
• Knowledge and understanding of waveforms from the great vessels and all chambers of the heart including the ability to recognize and distinguish normal from abnormal - artifact from abnormality - and forewarn the physician of an impending life-threatening situation
• d
• Knowledge of quality control and performance improvement indicators for the Cardiac Cath Lab and ability to prepare and analyze quality control of test results
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm 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)