Summary

This position is located within the Diagnostic Imaging service at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix - Arizona. This position is the primary DRT/OR tech to cover cases in the operating room and works remaining duty time in diagnostic x-ray. Rotates responsibilities within the section - with primary function being coverage of the Operating Room cases.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency: DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• 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 U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Loss of Credential
• An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain certification within two years - or who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations GS-9 Diagnostics Radiologic Technologist: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical 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
• Creditable Experience: 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 one year of active practice - which is paid or non- paid employment as a DRT as defined by ARRT
• Experience is only creditable if it was earned after completion of the basic certification requirements
• Experience as a graduate DRT is creditable provided the candidate functioned as a DRT and subsequently passed the certification examination
• Part-time experience as a DRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a DRT would receive one week of full- time credit for each two weeks of half-time work
• Specialized Assignments
• General Radiologic Technology (R)
• DRTs perform procedures and examinations in hospitals or clinics under the direction of radiologists and other medical officers
• The objective of the examinations and procedures is to produce radiographic studies that are used in medical diagnosis and interpreted by medical officers to locate injuries - foreign bodies - pathological conditions - or lesions within the body
• They prepare and administer contrast media and medications in accordance with State and Federal regulations
• All DRTs must be knowledgeable in computerized [and digital radiography (CR/DR) -] and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS)
• 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-9. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Works independently on most exams but confers with Radiologists and DRT Supervisor and/or Lead Technologist on more difficult problems
• Use independent judgment and possess the ability to vary exams or treatment procedures as needed to compensate for patient's individual medical conditions and body habitus
• Works with the radiologist/physician as a member of the surgical /x-ray team
• Advises radiologists or referring physicians of examination results and notifies them of procedures requiring their immediate attention
• Optimizes times while maintaining flexibility for emergent cases
• Receives and interprets all radiology requests for accuracy - appropriateness
• date desired and maintains a thorough knowledge of the ordering process in CPRS
• Determines technical factors to produce and satisfy requirements of necessary imaging
• Maintains electronic records and files of exams performed on patients
• Accurately operates a wide variety of imaging equipment to obtain examinations of acceptable quality - utilizing the least amount of radiation to obtain quality imaging for diagnosis and localization purposes
• Works to assure timely accomplishment of assigned workload - making day to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities and additional assignments
• Performs all aspects of portable/c-arm imaging to include - but not limited to vascular - urology - spine - orthopedic - podiatry - pain injections - chole studies
• Perform daily checks on all equipment used in the Operating environment (c-arms - portables etc. - and notify supervisor of any deficiencies or problems - and will enter work orders with HTM as needed
• Prepares contrast materials - under the direction of the surgeon or radiologist - that are used in vascular and other cases
• Adheres to Radiation Safety guidelines - properly determines applying technical factors to ensure ALARA dose optimization - positioning - required views - etc
• to produce and satisfy requirements for diagnostic imaging and portable/c-arm exams
• Must be continuously on the alert to the patient's condition and other disorders
• Applies Infection Control practices and procedures for patients and staff - as mandated by the Medical Center and Radiology Service Infection Control policies
• Applies safety procedures for self - patients and others as mandated by Radiology Service Safety policies for all imaging modalities
• Maintains adequate supplies and pharmaceuticals used in the department
• Performs and completes imaging studies within the established guidelines for stat - pre-op - operative - urgent - and routine exams
• Responsible for stocking and inventory of all supplies - notifying supervisor when supplies are not available and monitoring expiration dates to ensure all items are within compliance
• Responsible for minor equipment adjustments - repairs and exercises care in the handling and safeguarding of all equipment
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• inserting and deleting text - formatting letters - reports - and memoranda
• and transmitting and receiving email
• Will use the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System and the hospital Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) Systems for patient information storage
• Work Schedule: 40 Hours a week - Days off are determined by the needs of the service
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf 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 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)