The position is located at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Salem, Virginia. The incumbent will serve as a Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) Nascular Instrument Technicians perform procedures and examinations on patients as a clinical or research service to physicians. The service relates to the treatment of patients or it involves providing the physician with technical information used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in patients.

Duties

Major duties include but not limited to: EKG Lab: Performs EKG's; exercise treadmills or bicycles; exercise or pharmacological stress tests such as IV dobutamine myocardial stress testing; Lexiscan stress testing in the Nuclear Medicine Laboratory; and exercise or pharmacological stress testing in the Echocardiography Laboratory. Operates and monitors commonly used electrocardiographic equipment including 12-lead electrocardiogram equipment and accessories. Instructs, positions and prepares patients; attaches electrodes to each patient's chest and extremities to record heart tracing. Connects patient to blood pressure and pulse monitoring equipment and monitors as directed. Capable of to setting up and connecting the patient to different cardiac monitoring systems which are the Holter 24-48-hour monitor system and the event monitoring system. Prepares computer-generated reports.Operates and monitors electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing, ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings. Ensures cardiac data is of diagnostic quality. Recognizes electrical or other interference for correction. Evaluates the technical capability and potential for clinical application of new equipment and prepares written procedures and operating instructions. Instructs other technicians, students, and physicians in training in EKG laboratory techniques. Performs pre-invasive cardiac/peripheral catheterization clinicand Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) clinic duties and ensuring the clinic(s) run smoothly. Vascular Lab: Utilizes highly specialized more complex vascular procedures, doubling as a Vascular Technician in the Cardiology Section these procedures not available in the Surgery Service or Interventional Radiology Service. Functions and responsibilities include: Advanced knowledge and skills to be proficient in utilizing the Parks Medical Electronics Flo-Lab 2100-SX vascular equipment and Sonova E software program or any similar replacement equipment or programs used for measuring segmental Ankle Brachial (ABI) for those patients suspected of having Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) or having known PAD post revascularization (with stenting or surgery) to assess for improvement. Screens patients for test suitability, prepares patients for the procedure, Wound care- undressing/dressing wounds, selects the appropriate doppler frequency and filter settings, performs and records doppler measurements at multiple vascular levels, and acquires the doppler signal by adjusting size and position as needed. For Pulse Volume Recording (PVR), prepares the patient, selects the applicable PVR settings, identifies and records waveforms for various vascular positions. For Segmental Limb Pressures, before and after cuff inflation, performs the appropriate patient preparation, selects the correct doppler frequency, acquire arterial signal, and adjusts the waveform size, position and volume as needed. For Digital Pressure Acquisition, performs proper patient preparation, cuff application, adjust waveform sizes and positions, and knows when the waveform has stabilized. For Pulse Reappearance Time, selects the correct T-Pulse Reappearance Time, adjusts waveform sizes and positions, records several types of pulses, and recognizes the occlusion cycle period. Utilizes the PeriMed Peri-Flux 5000 to perform Transcutaneous Oxygen (TcpO2) measurements on patients with suspected or known Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), especially those patients with acute or chronic limb ischemia manifested by skin ulcers or gangrene. Such patients are typically referred from the Cardiology Vascular Laboratory by Podiatry Section. Performs machine calibration and selects specific electrodes/probes to perform cutaneous tissue oxygen measurements. It may be necessary for technician to repeat equipment setup and protocols after provocation such as leg elevation or oxygen inhalation. Obtains the right wound-care supplies, properly washes and dries hands, removes the old wound dressing, ensures the wound is kept clean during testing, applies the new dressing and secures the new wound-care dressing. Routinely communicates with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive nature of information. Work Schedule: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM; Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

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. (1) Training. Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, and/or training under physicians certified in the functional area will be allowed on a month-for-month basis through the GS-5 level. (2) Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. 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). GS-8Experience: 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 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. *6. Ability to manage and supervise employees. 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: 2 years experience with EKG and Exercise, Pharmacologic Stress Echo Holter Monitor Analysis, Segmental Ankle Brachial Index Vascular Study, and Transcutaneous PO2 Vascular Study. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G27.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing and physical exertion. The technician will lift and bend frequently to position patients for testing. Reaching and stretching is required to set up equipment; pushing and pulling ambulatory equipment is necessary between patient care areas. The incumbent will also be required to walk long distances between testing areas. Dexterity is required.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Tammy Myrie
• Phone: 901-663-6722
• Email: [email protected]