Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist PACS

VA Careers - Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist:
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (PACS) position supports the Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy Programs as the Decentralized Hospital Computer Program package coordinator at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves as the advisor to the imaging and service line management in formulating and directing development of major administrative policies and evaluation of the imaging DCHP software package.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the point of contact on all matters relating to Imaging DCHP core packages and performs general ADPAC duties.
• Develops and maintains the imaging computer security plans for all users and hardware and software in the Imaging Programs and works with Information Security Officer to assure compliance.
• Works with imaging management to formulate and direct the development of major administrative policies for the imaging DCHP package evaluating circumstances where operational procedures are needed or need to be revised.
• Receives/reviews application for access to DCHP imaging and voice recognition software. Assigning codes to allow access while maintaining security and integrity of patient information.
• May function as a DRT which may include complex modalities such as CT MR mammography ultrasound and/or IR.
• Track outside reports ensuring their results are entered in the radiology package so that appropriate follow-up may be facilitated.
• Prepares quality assurance reports utilizing statistical information gathered to determine the over-all performance of the imaging package within the hospital information system.
• Prepares quality assurance reports utilizing statistical information gathers to determine over-all performance of the imaging package within hospital information system.
• Develop and maintain a workflow system that facilitates the movement of images and reports from outside providers into the medical center systems (CPRS/VISTA) by integrating software programs and formats.
• Operates digital radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment and the exposure factors necessary to produce a quality image.
• Makes exposures and processes images making corrections to factors that control penetration contrast or density for under or overexposure. Send images to PACS and VISTA for storage.
• Serves as DCHP subject matter expert by remaining current on developments and informs users of changes to software packages.
• Resolves all operating problems working with IRM to test and install patches for all modifications to the imaging package.
• Provides oversight of hardware relating to PACS display workstations applications speech recognition hardware and other medical imaging hardware.
• Provides training to radiologist technologists and other staff in proper and efficient use of the integrated PACS and VISTA imaging systems.
• Properly identify patient before a procedures asking biographic details and explains procedure to be performed to patient or family.
• Analyzes data to perform corrections to the system and removing conflicting information to ensure all patient information is accurately delivered to clinicians in a timely manner.

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

• 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.

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 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). 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 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).
• 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.

• Ability to provide support and troubleshoot system application and hardware issues and instruct users in the proper operation of digital image processing storage and display systems.
• Ability to perform VistA radiology VistA imaging and PACS support activities and general ADPAC duties including user access control.
• Ability to initiate repair requests with appropriate services or vendors.
• Knowledge of PACS system infrastructure and functionality.
• Ability to provide training to all user levels in the efficient use of imaging hardware and software of the integrated PACS system.
• Knowledge of specific positioning technique and imaging procedures so he/she will be able to perform and reconcile image information correctly and efficiently during technical post processing and evaluation.

• One year of PACS and VISTA Imaging experience in relation to administrative support.
• Knowledge of order set creation in VISTA preferred.