National Teleradiology Program (NTP) provides remote, 24/7/365 reading of Radiology studies from VAMCs throughout VHA NTP's Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) is the most technically complex, mission-critical medical system currently deployed across VHA. NTP maintains a System that includes a PACS database/central archive with associated servers and software that can receive studies from all VHA facilities and provide final reports directly back into the originating sites.
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: 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.) 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 has 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.] 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. Exception for Non-Certified, Entry Level Candidates: Non-certified DRTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for ARRT (R) certification may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate DRT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a DRT that provides care under the supervision of a certified DRT at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies to the GS-5 entry-level technician. For grade levels above the entry level, the candidate must be certified. Temporary appointments of non-certified DRTs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: [Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist], GS-11 [ ] 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 needed to provide services as a quality control technologist, DRT team leader, supervisory radiologic technologist, [PACS technologist, clinical program director], or an assistant chief radiologic technologist. 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: Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist. The technologist functions as a lead technologist for a group of DRTs at the GS-10 level and below. The technologist performs a full range of general radiologic treatment procedures and possesses broad knowledge of the different modalities within the diagnostic radiologic area. The technologist is accountable to the next higher-level supervisor. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): *Skill in directing on-the-job training for employees. *Ability to evaluate work performance of lower-level employees and recommend performance ratings. *Skill in technical planning and oversight to set and adjust work priorities, and ensure that work requirements are met based on employee capabilities. Ability to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, including knowledge of growth and development. *Knowledge of medical center, VHA, and government-wide human resources management regulations, policies, and procedures. 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-0647-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-0647-11 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, and there will be extended periods of time using and sitting in front of computers. Requires visual acuity to identify image quality and monitor quality issues. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) - PACS functions as a Lead for a group of DRTs at the GS-10 level and below, as well as GS-301-9 PACS Assistants within the NTP Support organization. The Lead Technologist performs the full range of NTP PACS Technologist duties and possesses broad expertise in the different modalities within the diagnostic radiologic area supported by NTP. The Lead functions will comprise greater than 25% of the duties. The Lead DRT/PACS Technologist is accountable to the Supervisory PACS Administrator. The incumbent must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): *Skill in directing on-the-job training for employees. *Ability to evaluate work performance of lower-level employees and recommend performance ratings. *Skill in technical planning and oversight to set and adjust work priorities and ensure that work requirements are met based on employee capabilities. Ability to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, including knowledge of growth and development. *Knowledge of the medical center, VHA, and government-wide human resources management regulations, policies, and procedures. The incumbent's principal responsibilities are to provide leadership, training, and direction to a team of NTP PACS Technologists and PACS Assistants. They will provide technical and operational support to increase the efficiency of the NTP Support workgroup, which will positively impact NTP Radiologists and NTP's clinical customers. They will also perform high-level PACS Technologist functions by preparing and organizing teleradiology exams sent across the VA-wide area network to the NTP PACS and ensure that reports are successfully transmitted back to the originating site's electronic medical record. They will also monitor critical and noncritical callbacks to ensure they are completed and documented. He/she will interact with NTP Radiologists working from multiple locations and will routinely interact with facility-based DRTs and clinicians in multiple departments across each hospital NTP supports. Weekend, holiday and shift work will be required for this position to ensure coverage during hours of NTP operations. The incumbent will oversee the performance of quality control activities on all cases submitted to NTP to ensure that the exam is complete, given the modality and procedure description, they will verify relevant priors are available (either via export from the local/VISN PACS or NTP initiated query/retrieve) and will assist remote DRTs at other VA locations in the preparation, case edit, and transmission of images to NTP. The incumbent will possess knowledge of the VA hospital environment and day to day role of DRTs working in V HA radiology departments. The incumbent will solve transmission issues from local/VISN PACS to NTP PACS. The position requires fundamental knowledge of computer hardware, Radiology, and PACS workflow, which can be obtained through education and experience in the field. The incumbent will continuously monitor and improve procedures in his/her section and actively participate in quality improvement activities within NTP. Lead DRT/PACS Technologists use their knowledge of radiology workflow and processes in conjunction with a specialized technical skillset to support and troubleshoot image processing, display, and storage systems. They assist the NTP PACS Administrators with oversight and support of PACS display workstations, interfaces, secondary applications, speech recognition, and other hardware that is critical to NTP efficiency and throughput. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 9a-730p. May include weekends. Or as determined by the supervisor. Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion. Telework: AD HOC ONLY. Functional Statement #: 07877-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized