Supervisory Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)

Summary

The Supervisor Medical Instrument Technician (MIT), (Echocardiography) serves as the first line supervisor of the MIT Echocardiography Technicians within the Primary and Specialty Care Service Line at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. This supervisor will assist in various sections as needed in collaboration with other service lines to ensure high quality patient care.

The Echocardiography Supervisor functions proficiently in all aspects of the Echocardiography Clinic.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Produces diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift on a mastery level.
• Knowledge of normal echocardiography findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.
• Performs 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 acquire images using 3D echo capability.
• Performs complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) trans-thoracic echocardiography.
• Bubble studies and contract echocardiography (invasive), stress echocardiography, and trans-esophageal echocardiography.
• Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.
• Interacts with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure.
• Follows policy for cleaning and sterilization process for TEE probes.
• Completes diagnostic studies ordered by and in collaboration with physician on all tours of duty with minimal or no direct supervision; works with co-workers to coordinate appointment/workload according to appropriateness of patients/staffing; prioritizes patient and requests throughout the day.
• Manages Echocardiography images in PACS system and copies to CD as needed.
• Knowledge of more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques to provide training and supervisor in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to assist in SOP/policy writing, and protocols that pertain to Echocardiography.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission and other regulatory requirements.
• Develops and maintains on-call schedule for MIT Echo Technicians.
• Determines staffing requirements based on past, present, and future workloads patterns and develops weekly/monthly schedules.
• Coordinates leave requests to maintain optimal staffing levels and provide recommendations to the Supervisor for decisions regarding leave requests.
• Routinely checks for and removes outdated/expired items before expiration date.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
• Confers with Cardiology providers for difficult examinations and notifies both the referring provider and Cardiology provider of exam results, as needed. Supervises students.
• Work Schedule: 7:30am – 4:00pm; On call 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

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Benefits

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran’s community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter License *Highly Recommended* – Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document – KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript