This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) at this level operates and monitors electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing and ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias. Duties include Exercise tolerance test system (treadmill and Continuous EKG monitoring) during routine treadmills, Stress ECHO and MUSE Cardiology Storage Systems, Holter Monitor scanning and interpretation, and Event Monitor scanning and interpretation with the appropriate documentation in CPRS and Vista Imaging associated with each examination. The position is located in the Cardiology Department, Puget Sound Health Care System - Seattle Washington and provides back-up coverage at the American Lake campus. Duties and responsibilities include: Maintain efficient workflow in the EKG department; distributes workload and assignments to EKG staff, ensuring timely completion of required duties. Problem solving and conflict resolution; essential to the lead EKG position. Analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems and develop / implement solutions that result in efficient section operation. Consult and apprise the Cardiology Nurse Manager of problems that arise and make recommendations for solution. Report to Cardiology Nurse Manager on performance, progress, and training needs and disciplinary problems of employees. Deliver fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. Receive and interpret physician 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 tests and monitor the patient for adverse reactions; and operate, calibrate, and clean and/or sterilize commonly used equipment. Perform special and routine tests on adult patients, male and female. Maintain and keep current policies and procedures for device monitoring and stress testing monitoring as indicated. Responsible for all technical aspects of state-of-the-art electrocardiograph testing and report critical findings to the appropriate level of staff. Assist in troubleshooting equipment throughout the facility and affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics and provide replacement equipment when necessary. Perform Electrocardiograms. Conduct routine and emergency electrocardiogram tests using EKG machines. Vary test procedures as needed to adjust to patient's medical condition and to assess the adequacy of results obtained under less-than-ideal conditions (e.g., patient cannot cooperate, cannot be positioned normally). Recognize commonly encountered ideal results or patient reactions that indicate the need for additional tests to pinpoint abnormalities. Apply special procedures and care in handling critically ill or injured patients, recognize adverse responses, initiate appropriate emergency procedures, and notify Cardiology CCU Attending of emergency. Transmit the EKG to MUSE system and assign to Physicians for interpretation. Participate in treadmill tests with a Registered Nurse or Physician. Instruct the patient and demonstrate use of treadmill. Prepare the patient by shaving appropriate area and attaching electrodes to patient's shoulders and chest. Connect electrodes to machine cable. Perform routine EKG prior to treadmill. Record blood pressure prior to and during procedure, inform physician of abnormalities. Initiate appropriate emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as required, when cardiac emergencies occur. BLS is required, ACLS is preferred. Conduct Zio Holter Monitor procedure. Prep the patient and attach electrodes to patient's chest and to the Holter Monitor Tape Recorder. Instruct the patient in use of equipment and record activities in diary provided. At completion of testing, remove electrodes and the Zio/Event/Holter Monitor Recorder. Scan the tape for recognizable abnormalities, i.e., ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, ectopic beats if applicable. Recognize and delete artifacts and prepare a summarized Holter report for interpretation by the physician. Maintain a file of all Holter Monitor recordings. Event Monitors. Explain the use of the event monitor to the patient. Apply the event monitor and explain to the patient when it should he removed. Explain how to return the event monitor for interpretation. Download results from website and distribute it to appropriate staff for confirmation, and close consult. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g. 2. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. GRADE DETERMINATION. In addition to meeting the above Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Grade Determination criteria below: Medical Instrument Technician, GS-8 Lead 1. Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which provided knowledge of advanced specialized procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 1. Knowledge of pharmacology related to specialized procedures. 2. Ability to provide briefings and orientations to hospital staff including physicians. 3. Knowledge of a variety of related acute disorders and diseases, their effects on organs, and methods of treatment. 4. Ability to perform more complex procedures such as SAECG (Signal Averaged ECG), Tilt table monitoring, electrophysiology monitoring, and event monitoring. 5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. Note:Clearly describe how you meet these KSAs in your resume; we cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Preferred Experience: 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 EKG equipment and related instruments. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, Sub Appendix E, march 17, 2006. The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. Physical Requirements: The work requires heavy lifting (over 45 pounds); pushing (up to 2 hours); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; standing (up to 6 hours); repeated bending (up to 6 hours); the ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); and visual acuity corrected to 20/30. Must be able to work with hands in water and work closely with others.

Education

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). If selected for this position, you are encouraged to apply for EDRP within four (4) months of appointment and must meet specific individual eligibility criteria in accordance with VHA Policy 1021. Final award amount and program start date is determined after review of a complete EDRP application, supporting documentation, and final approval by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. Please contact the EDRP Coordinator @ [email protected]

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Joe Julkowski
• Phone: 509-434-7382
• Email: [email protected]