Diagnostic Radiology Technologist (Mammography)
Serves as a registered mammographer performing routine to very difficult radiographic examinations of well and diseased breasts. Performs Radiologic procedures and examinations to include screening and diagnostic mammography, and breast interventional procedures. Maintains strict adherence to mammography guidelines to ensure the integrity and consistency of mammographic studies. Must closely monitor the QC, phantoms, repeat analysis and other tests performed and required to ensure compliance with the established mandatory guidelines set by the regulatory agencies. Responsible to independently meet with the Food and Drug Administrator (FDA) inspector annually during a site inspection. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for maintaining and reviewing all documents for each day of operation throughout the past year with FDA inspector to ensure record compliance under MQSA and ACR regulations. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, all quality control and quality assurance measures as required by the FDA, ACR, MQSA and other mammography accrediting agencies as well as the overall organization of the mammography suite and associated equipment. Makes several exposures on own initiative to provide complete studies for the radiologist's review and interpretation. Adjusts procedure and positioning technique according to type of patient being examined, sets up mammography suite; assures that sterile supplies, contrast materials, biopsy needles and other equipment required are present. By maintaining accreditation with the American College of Radiology, the incumbent will also stay abreast of new developments in the field of mammography and will be responsible for making recommendations to the appropriate authority that would improve the quality and operation of the service. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting all quality assurance tests (daily, weekly, monthly, annually, etc.) to ensure consistently high-quality mammograms are exposed and processed and will be responsible for performing preventative maintenance (and minor repairs) to the equipment. Performs DXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) bone density examinations of the spine, extremities and body. Confers with radiologists and/or endocrinologists to determine requirement of non-standard exams. Determines technical factors, positioning of scans, etc. to produce and satisfy requirements of DXA scanning. Selects and prepares proper imaging cameras, computers, and auxiliary equipment to perform procedures. Positions the patient and equipment to obtain desired images. Verifies regions of interest (ROI); evaluates quality of measurements for problems due to artifacts, pathology, etc.; recommends additional scan as necessary; flags values that require physician's attention (low T-score; unreliable results, etc.); and archives results. Schedules patients for examinations. Receives patients, explains methods and procedures, and answers questions to allay fears. Sets and adjusts accessory equipment. Prepares reports/interpretations and patient notification letters in the mammography reporting system. The mammography reporting system is used to input mammography information and demographics, initiate results and a call-back letter, initiate problem case files, request comparison films from other facilities, and activate QA monitors. Responsible for image quality, patient positioning, compression, image production and image processing. Responsible for specific quality control procedures as outlined in MQSA guidelines. Confers with radiologist to establish requirements of nonstandard examinations and determines technical factors, positioning, and number of images to satisfy the requirements. Maintains records of patients treated, examinations performed and results sent utilizing the mammography tracking software package. Adheres to hospital infection control and safety policies/techniques with emphasis on sterile technique; the storage of sterile supplies; the disposal of body fluids and 'sharps'; proper attire (PPE); hand washing practices; and continuing education. This requires the use of surgical sterile techniques, syringes, needles, contrast, etc. This also requires the reprocessing of reusable medical equipment (RME) according to hospital policies and standard operating procedures. Incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
maintaining an adequate supply of linens, film, cassettes, -supplies and sterilized equipment; maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment; preparing file jackets on patients, filing and retrieving old mammograms and archived films to include digitizing; utilizing the computer system to schedule patients for exams. Incumbent will perform other duties; as assigned. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8:
00am - 4:
30pm; to include compressed work schedules Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Recruitment/Relocation incentives are not authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/25/2019. 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. 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 (JRCERT) or from schools accredited by the ARRT and certification by the ARRT in radiology. 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. 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 (ARRT) (R). Preferred
Experience:
-Certified Mammographer (M) with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist GRADE REQUIREMENTS a. 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 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. b. Specialized Assignments. Specialized areas of radiologic technology include mammography (M). Mammography (M). The complex nature of breast disease involves multiple imaging modalities. This specialty involves the specific knowledge and abilities to perform complex imaging of the breast. They must be able to employ specialized mammographic image techniques such as magnification views and implant views of the breast. The mammographer is required to be completely familiar with, and adhere to, all U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines regulating the practice of mammography, radiation safety, and quality assurance requirements. Mammographers are subject to the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA) and regulated by the FDA. Grade Determinations:
Experience. At least 1 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. 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:
Advanced DRT. Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and are able to carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex radiographic procedures. 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 the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk ( ):
a. Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures; b. Skill to demonstrate appropriate techniques to gather relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers; c. Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure; d. Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography; e. Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions; and f. Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients. References:
VA Handbook 5005/77, Part II, Appendix G25 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements:
Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; straight pulling (2 hours); pushing (4 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4 hours), standing (4 hours), kneeling (2 hours), repeated bending 2 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement (specify) DVA Correctable 20/40; both eyes required; hearing (aid permitted); hearing without aid; Mental and Emotional Stability.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
maintaining an adequate supply of linens, film, cassettes, -supplies and sterilized equipment; maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment; preparing file jackets on patients, filing and retrieving old mammograms and archived films to include digitizing; utilizing the computer system to schedule patients for exams. Incumbent will perform other duties; as assigned. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8:
00am - 4:
30pm; to include compressed work schedules Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Recruitment/Relocation incentives are not authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/25/2019. 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. 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 (JRCERT) or from schools accredited by the ARRT and certification by the ARRT in radiology. 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. 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 (ARRT) (R). Preferred
Experience:
-Certified Mammographer (M) with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist GRADE REQUIREMENTS a. 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 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. b. Specialized Assignments. Specialized areas of radiologic technology include mammography (M). Mammography (M). The complex nature of breast disease involves multiple imaging modalities. This specialty involves the specific knowledge and abilities to perform complex imaging of the breast. They must be able to employ specialized mammographic image techniques such as magnification views and implant views of the breast. The mammographer is required to be completely familiar with, and adhere to, all U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines regulating the practice of mammography, radiation safety, and quality assurance requirements. Mammographers are subject to the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA) and regulated by the FDA. Grade Determinations:
Experience. At least 1 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. 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:
Advanced DRT. Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and are able to carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex radiographic procedures. 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 the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk ( ):
a. Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures; b. Skill to demonstrate appropriate techniques to gather relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers; c. Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure; d. Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography; e. Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions; and f. Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients. References:
VA Handbook 5005/77, Part II, Appendix G25 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements:
Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; straight pulling (2 hours); pushing (4 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4 hours), standing (4 hours), kneeling (2 hours), repeated bending 2 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement (specify) DVA Correctable 20/40; both eyes required; hearing (aid permitted); hearing without aid; Mental and Emotional Stability.
- Department:
0647 Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist - Salary Range:
$58,844 to $76,493 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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