Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

Summary

Technician performs Cardiology duties at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center assisting the staff physicians by carrying out a variety of clinical and supportive tasks in the Cardiology section of the Medical Service.

Qualifications

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

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• 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
• For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments - specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under ""Titles and Certification/Registrations""
• 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
• 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)
• GS7 Grade Determinations EXPERIENCE: 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
• Examples of experience include: receive and interpret physician's requests for diagnostic procedures and/or treatments
• explain the procedure to the patient to secure the patient's confidence and cooperation
• document the patient's record
• independently perform standardized testing monitoring the patient for adverse reactions
• and operate - calibrate - and clean and/or sterilize commonly used equipment
• Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of standard medical terminology as well as common diseases and their specific affects
• AND DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE - SKILLS - & ABILITIES Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize - report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias
• Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures
• 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
• Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
• 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 EKG tech certification is preferred - but not required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS07.
  
  

Duties

• Under general supervision of a Cardiology Supervisor - technician serves as a Medical Instrument Technician (Electrocardiograph) responsible for all technical aspects of state-of-the-art electrocardiograph (ECG) testing
• Operates and monitors the performance of computerized ECG equipment used in the performance of a variety of specialized - complex - non-invasive cardiac procedures
• Duties include: Work as GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician-Electrocardiogram
• Serve as a technician - performing routine assignments of a technical and sometimes complex nature with scope level autonomy and limited/occasional supervision
• Independently demonstrates accuracy and efficiency in editing EKGs and identifying critical events that need physician attention
• demonstrates accuracy and efficiency in editing stress test and Holter monitor results - preparing documentation for Cardiologist overread
• Enroll Veteran device application in appropriate monitoring sites
• Analyzes and recognizes abnormalities of cardiac rate variation and rhythm and notifies responsible provider immediately regarding potentially dangerous and life-threatening information
• Independently utilizes knowledge of heart rhythms to identify irregularities in patient cardiac patterns - regular and irregular cardiac- function patterns
• Prints out sections of abnormal heart patterns or full disclosure tape for physician
• Analyzes information in patient diary to identify incidents that correspond to heart pattern irregularities detected on heart monitor
• records findings and forwards information along with patient diary to interpreting physician
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized