Medical Instrument Technicians (EKG) will operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing and ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias. They monitor tracings to identify arrhythmias and possess knowledge to identify gross abnormalities, when to repeat certain procedures, when to stop test procedures, and when to get the immediate attention of a physician.

Duties

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Major duties include, but not limited to: Performing Electrocardiograms, Exercise Stress Test, Holter Monitors, scanning Holter Monitors, Signal Average (Late Potential) Electrocardiograms, Echo Ultrasounds, Dobutamine Stress Echo, Stress Echo's and Arterial Plethysomograms. Dealing with critically ill, isolated, and routine patients. Recognizing abnormalities for arrhythmias; acute Mi's and contacts the appropriate physician. Obtain and calculate accurate arterial blood flow. Maintaining all reports and editing all procedures for all sites. Instructing nursing students, respiratory students, medical students and hospital staff on obtaining electrocardiograms, maintaining and operating the electrocardiogram machines. Performing clerical transcription of all physician interpretations of all procedures including seven sites into the MUSE System and VISTA database. Entering CPT coding on all procedures done on every patient including checking every patient in and out in appointment management for all Central Texas VA sites. Performing highly technical specialized procedures such as T-Wave alternans (TWA) and Tilt Table testing. These tests require superior coordination between physician and technician. Responsible for independently monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, rhythm strips and alerting the appropriate physician of any abnormalities and/or arrhythmias. Obtaining and maintaining BLS certification and responding to all cardiac emergencies. Performing clerical transcription of all physician interpretation of all procedures, including seven sites into the MUSE System and VISTA database Vista Imagining. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm 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) 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 #: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-08 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level GS-07 which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. Examples of experience are: operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing, ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients; monitor tracings to identify arrhythmias and when gross abnormalities appear, when to repeat certain procedures, when to stop test procedures, and when to get the immediate attention of a physician; evaluate test results to determine appropriate machine adjustments and use alternative techniques and procedures when established procedures do not accomplish acceptable results; adapting equipment and accessories to yield the best results during the examination; edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician. In addition to the experience, candidates must have demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of pharmacology related to specialized procedures. Ability to provide briefings and orientations to hospital staff including physicians. Knowledge of a variety of related acute disorders and diseases, their effects on organs, and methods of treatment. Ability to perform more complex procedures such as SAECG (Signal Averaged ECG), Tilt table monitoring, electrophysiology monitoring, and event monitoring. Certification. No certification or registration is required. Certification is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT). Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level. Preferred Experience: Certification Desired Certified Cardiographic Technician, Certified EKG Tech 3 or more years experience performing in EKG Field or Cardiology Currently employed as an EKG Technician or Cardiology Technician Reference: VA Handbook 5005/54, PART II, Appendix G27, Appendix E, GS-649; Medical Instrument Technician (EKG). For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Repeated bending; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Hearing without aid.

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 VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]