Career Center

This Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) position is located in the Inpatient and Emergency Service Division at the Portland VA Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. This position provides cardiac telemetry monitoring for patients located on any of the acute care medical-surgical floors. 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. English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English 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 (a) 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 KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 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. (c) Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification. (d) Assignment. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level 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. Assignments at this level require knowledge of standard medical terminology as well as common diseases and their specific affects. GS-7 (a) 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 KSAs:(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. (c) 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. (d) Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level 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. They 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. They evaluate test results to determine appropriate machine adjustments and use alternative techniques and procedures when established procedures do not accomplish acceptable results. This includes adapting equipment and accessories to yield the best results during the examination. They edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician. Preferred Experience: Cardiac Telemetry or EKG Direct patient care. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-07. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying up to 44 pounds. Straight pulling 1-2 hours. Pushing 1-2 hours. Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Both hands required. Walking 4-8 hours. Standing 4-8 hours. Repeated bending 4-8 hours. 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 and shades of colors. Hearing (aid may be permitted). Mental and emotional stability. ["The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving 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 by working with the RN to initiate an emergency code response. 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. Modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue; Act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians; Conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation. Admitting and discharging patients from the central monitor; Updating daily assignment board and sheet with current nurse, patient, pager and phone; Completing telemetry charging log sheets; Assuring that all telemetry orders are current and not expired; Completing and posting telemetry reports; Entering telemetry data; Assuring that equipment, which is malfunctioning, is sent to BioMed with an accurate description of the malfunction. Assign pagers and phones and monitor all equipment to ensure it is functioning appropriately. Conduct alarm review and set alarm limits. Work Schedule: 5:00am - 5:30pm or 5:00pm - 5:30am, Variable days to include weekends and holidays\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nTelework: Not available.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]