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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.) English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and7407(d). 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). NOTE: Assignment to the clinical program director requires meeting JRCERT minimum educational standards as noted in the assignment description. Specialized Experience: Must possess progressive experience equivalent to the next lower grade in Federal service (GS-08) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics related to the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as having specific knowledge of superconducting magnets, the physics of superconducting magnets, and how they relate to the human anatomy in medical imaging. The technologist must be educated in the safety factors governing a magnetic environment that patients, visitors, and equipment enter. The practitioner must have specialized knowledge of cross sectional anatomy and how it relates to the soft tissues and vessels of the human body. The technologist must also have specialized knowledge in the radio-frequency surface coils required for each specific anatomical area to be imaged. [This assignment may also perform basic magnetic resonance safety program duties. Technologists must be knowledgeable in contrast media, power injectors, and PACS. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience required to qualify for a Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (MRI) at the GS-9 grade level. GS-09 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. Candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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. 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: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/119, Part II, Appendix G25, dated 12/13/2019, Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist Qualification Standards. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements: Requires daily heavy lifting in the handling of patients, daily carrying of equipment, prolonged standing, reaching above shoulders to reach items stored in higher locations, use of fingers and manual dexterity to operate the keyboard and touch screens, and a high level of mental and emotional stability. Environmental Factors: Extended periods of working with other people in a close environment, and working alone. Exposure to bodily fluids, and radiation sources and ionizing radiation. ["Employees at this level who are not leads or supervisors may be assigned varying duties related to MRI Employees are trained to work in one or more difficult and complex modalities performing procedures related to these modalities. It is expected that such assignments be unique, perhaps with expert specialization in complex area of MRI to include imagining of head, neck, spine, abdomen, chest, upper and lower extremities. Position is an operator of the super conductive Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI), a highly complex computerized imagining device which employs the use of strong magnetic fields and radio waves to acquire images. Employee maintains the cleanliness of his/her assigned work area, maintains necessary supplies in the work area. Reports all shortages to the supervisor, as well as any equipment failure. In the absence of the supervisor, contacts Biomedical Engineering or the service vendor to arrange for service. Employee has a responsibility to recognize and exhibit good safety practices; to comply with published and communicated safety procedures; to immediately report observed safety infractions and unsafe working conditions and to report in a timely fashion work related illnesses and injuries. MRI Safety Level I and II Training required. Employee observes patient safety guidelines as set forth in department and Medical Center policies and procedures. Also, completes all MRI Screening in a competent and efficient manner to ensure optimum Patient safety. The employee's relationship with supervisors, co-workers, and others within the organization are consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and overall contribute positively to the effective operation of the Radiology Service. Difference of opinion are nearly always handled in a business-like fashion. The incumbent accepts duties/assignments outside of his/her normal workstation for purposes of receiving additional training, and to provide needed coverage as determined by his/her supervisor based on patient workload shit/changes and availability of personnel. Actively seeks out work when assigned tasks are finished. Proactively identifies administrative, clinical or mechanical problems. And defines solutions thereof. Treats patients and visitors with courtesy and respect. Performs assigned duties with no supervision during irregular hours to insure adequate patient examinations. The incumbent consults/advises the Radiologist of those examinations which require immediate attention while the patient is till undergoing the examination. The incumbent assists the radiologist in the administration of contrast material agents. The incumbent practices sterile technique to prevent contamination. The incumbent accurately and routinely performs the associated DHCP and imagining network responsibilities that relate to a patient examination and the patients record. The incumbent is responsible for setting up and positioning patients, provides immobilization devices, selects proper technical factors on an individual patient basis and operates the equipment. New equipment will be evaluated, and new methods will be compared with existing methods. Interaction with physicians, scientist, physicists, computer programmers and manufacture's technical design engineers will be a normal occurrence of the daily duties of the operator, along with patient interactions. Checks all equipment and reports failures to the Lead or Chief Technologist or Bio-Med. Also, places work orders as needed. In all sections, administers contrast media and medications under the direction and supervision of the staff radiologist(s). Confers with the radiologist(s) to establish requirements regarding contrast agents, vial signs, medications, and physiological monitoring to perform the procedures(s). The technologist(s) is available to assist the radiologist during the procedure on an as needed basis. This includes Claustrophobia SOP for VA Puget Sound. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator Stacy Hermann @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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