Medical Instrument Technician, Electrocardiograph (EKG) - Heart Center Services
What you'd do
The Medical Instrument Technician, Electrocardiograph (EKG) operate instruments used to record electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance tests, 24-48 heart monitoring and scanning, and pacemaker evaluations. They utilize specific physiological analytical equipment used to evaluate the anatomy and physiology related to patients who have diagnoses of congenital heart disease, congestive heart disease, acquired heart disease and coronary artery disease.
Major duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment for specialized examinations, including exercise stress testing, ambulatory arrhythmia monitoring, and indirect carotid pulse tracings. Apply, remove, and process cardiac monitoring devices such as Zio patch monitors (48 hours-28 days), ABP monitors (24 hours), and Holter/event monitors (24-48 hours). Monitor EKG and stress-test tracings to identify arrhythmias, determine when to repeat or stop procedures, and notify a physician immediately when gross abnormalities appear. Evaluate test results and adjust equipment or techniques to ensure accurate, high-quality data; adapt equipment and accessories when standard procedures do not yield acceptable results. Download and scan monitor data into the Holter system and prepare appropriate tracing samples for provider interpretation. Assist with a variety of cardiac diagnostic procedures, including Exercise Tolerance Testing, Transesophageal Echo, Dobutamine Stress, Exercise Stress Echo, Bike Stress Testing, and Thallium Stress Testing. Place and remove EKG leads, educate patients on procedures and risks, monitor blood pressure and heart rhythm before/during/after testing, and respond appropriately to urgent or emergent events. Perform EKGs in the Outpatient EKG Clinic and Cardiology Clinic; print, edit, and update EKGs in the MUSE system, including adding missing demographics. Maintain professional communication with cardiology fellows, providers, and leadership to support efficient workflow. Scan completed tests into the EKG system and distribute reports to the Cardiology Chief, Supervisor, and Lead Technician. Perform patient check-in procedures and obtain accurate vital signs. Follow all reusable medical equipment policies; clean and maintain equipment and work areas with approved disinfectants. Inventory, maintain, and troubleshoot equipment; report issues promptly to supervisors. Schedule patients for testing as needed and assist with departmental workflow. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Lead EKG Technician, Supervisor, Cardiology Chief, or Heart Center Services Department leadership. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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 [work experience] or 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD55887-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (6/7/2012) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-07: Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of the equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings including arrhythmias and abnormalities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias. 2. Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures. 3. Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue. 4. Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians. 5. Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation. Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. Preferred Experience: Candidate to have experience with Holter monitor Candidate must have be able to complete stress tests, to include nuclear stress tests Candidate must be able to complete stress echoes Candidate will have EKG capability. 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-07. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44lbs), Light carrying, long hours of walking, standing and repeated bending, use of fingers/hands, and reaching above shoulder are required. The ability to distinguish colors/shades, mental/emotional stability and cognitive stability are also requirements. Incumbent may work inside/outside, work closely with others or alone and may have protracted or irregular hours of work.
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