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

Duties listed are for GS-7 full performance level, lower grades will differ in level of oversight, complexity and scope. Technical Duties: Perform electrocardiograms. Conducts routine and emergency electrocardiogram tests using EKG machines. Prepares patient for EKG by assisting patient to disrobe, positioning patient on examination table and instructing patient as to procedure to be accomplished. Attaches electrodes and connects electrodes to machine cable. Observes EKG recording and corrects for any artifacts such as wandering or irregular baseline due to loose electrodes; somatic tremor due to patient movement or respiration; and alternating current interference. Varies test procedures as needed to adjust to patient's medical condition and to assess the adequacy of results obtained under less-than-ideal conditions. Recognize commonly encountered ideal results or patient reactions that indicate the need for additional test to pinpoint abnormalities. Applies special procedures and care in handling critically ill or injured patients, recognizes adverse responses, initiates appropriate emergency procedures, and notifies Cardiology CCU Attending of emergency. Transmits EKG to MUSE system and assigns to Physicians for interpretation. Participates in treadmill tests with a physician. Instructs patient and demonstrates use of treadmill. Prepares patient by shaving appropriate area and attaching electrodes to patient's shoulders and chest. Performs routine EKG prior to treadmill. Attaches blood pressure cuff to patient and records blood pressure prior to procedure. During procedure, records blood pressure and calls abnormalities to attention of physician. Initiates appropriate emergency procedures, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as required, when cardiac emergencies occur. Conducts Zio/CAM Holter Monitor procedure. Preps patient and attaches electrodes to patient's chest and connects electrodes to Holter Monitor Tape Recorder. Instructs patient in use of equipment and recording activities in diary provided. Scans the tape for recognizable abnormalities, i.e., ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, ectopic beats if applicable. Recognizes and deletes artifacts and prepares a summarized Holter report for interpretation by the physician. Maintains a file of all Holter Monitor recordings. Event Monitors: Explains the use of the event monitor to the patient. Applies the event monitor and explain to the patient when it should he removed. Explains how to return the event monitor for interpretation. Downloads results from website and distribute it to appropriate staff for confirmation, and closes consult. Performs duties in support of pacemaker and ICE clinic. Records vital information including patient data. pacemaker model and serial numbers and date of pacemaker implantation in CPRS. Applies established procedures in order to run EKG testing on patients with a pacemaker; monitors their heart rate. Gives results to the physician. The EKG technician monitors for appropriate registration of these patients with the appropriate registries. Performs basic maintenance on the equipment per current operator's manual. Coordinates ordering/maintaining expendable supplies for the conduction of EKG testing. Coordinates with BioMed to perform periodic maintenance and to repair equipment as necessary. Administrative duties: Communications: The technician will interact with other healthcare professionals to discuss the indications, value, possible outcomes, and limitations of testing. The technician will proficient in communication, both orally and in writing with patients, visitors. non-healthcare and a variety of healthcare professionals. Clerical functions: Schedules patients for procedures. Calls patients to fill gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Uses established business rules to schedule appointments for veterans. Prioritizes patients to be scheduled. Sends procedure specific instruction letters for scheduled appointments. Answers dept. phone, returns patient calls, and transfers calls as needed. Maintains a daily log of patients and procedures. Completes proper electronic and written information for each procedure performed. Medical Terminology: The technician will understand more advanced medical terminology, and how it relates to the cardiac diagnostic testing being performed. The technician will have knowledge of acute cardiac disorders and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. Work Schedule: 7:30AM - 4PM, Monday - Friday Compressed:Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 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. 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. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part. 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. 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". For all specialties identified in this standard, 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). Grade Determinations: GS-6 Medical Instrument Technician - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG) 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure. 2. Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests. 3. Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action. 5. Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing. Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification. GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG) 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, March 17, 2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over), pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, repeated bending, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), and visual acuity 20/30 corrected. Environmental factors include working with hands in water, and working closely with others.

Education

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: Gabriel Johnson
• Phone: (503) 220-8262 X53014
• Email: [email protected]