Summary

A Medical Instrument Technician performs routine procedures (Holter Monitor - EKG - and routine implanted pacemaker and defibrillator evaluation) w/o direct supervision of a Physician or Provider The person incumbent understands when physicians need to be consulted immediately. The EKG Technician utilizes knowledge of anatomy and physiology including an understanding of cardia anatomy and physiology to interpret requests and to recognize the need for additional tests and intervention.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 02/14/2025.

Basic Requirements:

• UNITED STATES 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.) 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
• c
• 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".: 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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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: (1) 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 - & 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/54 PART II APPENDIX G27 (2) GS-7 (FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL) (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 - & 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/54 PART II APPENDIX G27 See Preferred Experience in the Additional Information section below
• The "desired" candidate will have the indicated preferred work experience.

Duties

• As a medical technician in the EKG - Holter and Exercise Laboratory and clinics for the Cardiology Section of the Medical Service - the incumbent performs routine and emergency 12-lead electrocardiograms and treadmill exercise testing with 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring
• Duties include placing event recorders on patients (Holter Monitors) which provide a continuous (24 hour) magnetic tape of patient's EKG recordings (Holter Monitoring) - scanning there recordings into the electronic medical record and providing physicians with a report regarding ECG abnormalities/events and corresponding symptoms documented by the patient in the patient log./diary
• The Medical Instrument Technician EKG also holds device clinics for patients who have implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators
• The duties also include downloading EKG tracings from the MUSE - entering interpretation edits into the electronic medical record and uploading the final readings to VistA imaging via the MUSE/ Processes request for electrocardiograms from inpatient and outpatient areas and assure they are completed with the correct priority
• Able to perform and instruct others in the performance of 12-lead electrocardiograms
• Must be familiar with common technical problems which require adjustment to the equipment to ensure a satisfactory quality tracing and recognizes machine malfunction and able to make appropriate adjustment and minor repairs
• Able to assist with the editing and processing of routine tracings
• Uploading tracings with physician edits to VistA Imaging
• Able to apply the leads for the tape recorder which records 24 hour electrocardiograms and instruct the patient in its use and maintenance of the patient diary during the recording period
• Able to analyze the tape recording using a sophisticated computerized scanner
• The individual must have sufficient electrocardiographic knowledge to recognize arrhythmias - confirm or correct the computer diagnosis and select for printing appropriate portions of the electrocardiogram for analysis by the Cardiologist
• Reviews the patient diary and ensures that the appropriate portions of the electrocardiogram are printed for correlation with symptoms and interpretation by the Cardiologist
• Able to troubleshoot and remedy tape recorder and scanner problems
• Able to instruct the patient in the appropriate follow up of permanent cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators and schedule follow-up visits and maintains a log of scheduled visits
• Able to perform routine checks of pacemaker function using electronic device programmers
• The individual is familiar with the operation of this equipment and performs routine checks unassisted and assists the physician in specialized testing and reprogramming of pacemakers
• He/she must be familiar with pacemaker and defibrillator function and routine checks so as to be able to call a physician to the laboratory before the patient leaves when a malfunction is detected or suspected
• Able to operate the treadmill - the bicycle ergometer and monitoring equipment using a variety of protocols according to the request of the Provider supervising the test
• He/she must be able to vary the testing protocol according to the clinical condition of the patient as the test proceeds
• The technician assists the physician in observing the electrocardiograph and clinical response of the patient to the exercise procedure and modifying or terminating the test as indicated
• Work Schedule: Based on the Needs of the Service Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (50 LBS and over)
• Heavy Carrying (50 LBS and over)
• Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour)
• Pushing (1 - 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 3 hours)
• Standing (up to 3 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 1 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13\" to 16\"
• Hearing (aid permitted)