Career Center

Summary

The incumbent works in cardiology Section of Nursing Services in this VAMC. Operating Medical Diagnostic Equipment. Duties include; Exercise tolerance test system (Treadmill) - MUSE Cardiology Storage Systems - Ambulatory Monitory System (King of Hearts & Holter monitors) Holter/Event Scanner - performing electrocardiograms - placing electrocardiogram leads - and Ambulatory Blood Pressure monitoring.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See VA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II - chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a 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
• 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
• Experience and Education 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 the individual with the knowledge - skills - and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized echocardiographic examinations
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• 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-7 Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the criteria discussed in the applicable headings - or that defined in the appendices - must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Electrocardiograph Technicians (EKG) operate instruments used to record electrocardiograms - exercise tolerance tests - 24-48 heart monitoring and scanning - and pacemaker evaluations
• Certification is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)
• (See Appendix E) Education/Training
• To be creditable education must have been gained in an accredited Community College - College - or University
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Specialized developmental experience obtained under supervision of appropriately certified individuals may be credited at higher levels and is addressed in individual appendices Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service
• An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials
• If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement
• In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Preferred Experience: 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
• Electrocardiograph Technicians (EKG) operate instruments used to record electrocardiograms - exercise tolerance tests - 24-48 heart monitoring and scanning - and pacemaker evaluations
• Certification is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Electroencephalograph (EEG) Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices such as evoked potential equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain
• Registration is offered by the American Board of Registration of EEG - CNIM & EP Technologists (ABRET) or the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Techs (AAET)
• Physical Requirements: The Medical instrument technicians (EKG) will be able to meet the physical demands of the position
• The work requires long periods of standing and physical exertion
• The Medical instrument technicians (EKG) 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 and agility is required to perform intricate diagnostic procedures in clinical areas of the medical center
• Reference: VHA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II - Staffing - Appendix G27
• Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standards
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Performs the full range of electrocardiograph procedures - and related examinations - such as applying ambulatory monitoring devices - scanning Holter tapes/disks - event monitor strips and editing EKG - Holter - and treadmill reports.
• Utilizes MUSE cardiology storage system
• Operates diagnostic medical equipment as a part of treatment of patient - supports register nurses - advance practice providers and physician's equipment
• Reviews request from physician or advance practice provider for appropriateness of requested procedure for patient's ability to perform prescribed test
• Receives assignments that require application of standard procedures or that have special procedures identified and explained
• Employee understands and carries out the appropriate requests made by practitioners or seeks assistance of the supervision when an uncommon - unique or new procedure is requested
• Instructs patient pre-procedure to assure confidence and cooperation of patient during procedures
• Independently explains various procedures including need for positions on table or treadmill - monitoring equipment - adverse reactions to stressing agents
• Answers question by patient and or family members
• Performs MI Tech work with Holter/Event Monitoring specialty
• This specialty area requires experience in applying - operating and instructing in Holter and Event Monitoring equipment
• Schedules patient for application and removal of monitors
• Instructs in the operation of EKG equipment to nursing staff in patient care and clinic areas
• Instructs the physicians - advance practice providers - and cardiology staff in the storage and use of MUSE System
• Displays a cooperative attitude and will effectively work with others to implement the organization's mission and goals
• Relationships with management - co-workers - clients - and the general public are consistently courteous - respectful - and cooperative in nature
• Familiarity with activities and procedures of the Cardiology section to be able to avoid conflicts - ensure complete documentation of patient care - and provide accurate information to patients and family members
• Understanding medical terminology - ECG recognition - Cardiac Catheterization - and Electrophysiology interpretative languages
• The position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the particular needs for client's ages 18 to 90 years
• Sensitivity to the special needs of all clients in respect to age - developmental requirements - and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws - Federal regulations - VA statutes and policy - and VHA policy
• Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss - alteration - or unauthorized deletion
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• inserting and deleting text and reports
• and transmitting and receiving e-mail
• Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000