Summary

The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization) for the Specialty Care Service Line.

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
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• 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
• Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable
• 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-4 (Basic Developmental 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 position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR, 1
• Education
• Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• 2
• Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used
• 3
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• 4
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• 5
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-5 (Basic Developmental 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 position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR, (b) Education
• Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1
• Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• 2
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
• 3
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
• 4
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
• 5
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine
• GS-6 Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization) (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
• Knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and basic electrocardiography
• 2
• Knowledge of sterile techniques, catheterization laboratory supplies, and equipment used in the procedures
• 3
• Ability to circulate, assist, monitor, and document hemodynamics and electrocardiograms during the procedure
• 4
• Knowledge of and ability to prepare intra-aortic balloon catheters
• GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization) (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 assist with insertion of temporary transvenous pacemaker catheters
• 2
• Ability to maintain intra-aortic balloon pump equipment during procedures
• 3
• Ability to complete individual cases by pulling sheaths and holding pressure to obtain hemostasis
• 4
• Ability to assist with closure devices
• 5
• Ability to appropriately educate patients and patient families regarding procedures and post- catheterization care
• GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization) - 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 of the positions to be filled
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1
• Ability to scrub, circulate, and monitor advanced procedures (including electrophysiological) to include rotoblation, intravascular ultrasound, RADI or wave-wire, angiojet, filter wires, myocardial biopsies EPS, permanent pacemaker insertions, AICD insertions, and biventricular pacemaker insertion
• 2
• Advanced knowledge of equipment, medications, and supplies used in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the ability to set-up, calibrate, operate, and troubleshoot this equipment
• 3
• Knowledge and understanding of wave forms from the great vessels and all chambers of the heart including the ability to recognize and distinguish normal from abnormal, artifact from abnormality, and forewarn the physician of an impending life-threatening situation
• 4
• Knowledge of quality control and performance improvement indicators for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and ability to prepare and analyze quality control of test results
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Duties include, but are not limited to: Cardiac Catheterization Duties The accurate monitoring and recording of intravascular pressures 2nd electrocardiographic tracings requiring knowledge of normal/abnormal waveforms and cardiac rhythms
• This is needed for patient safety during procedures and keeping the physician abreast of patient's status to prevent life threatening situations
• The incumbent must distinguish electrical artifact from normal/abnormal pressures and EKG patterns
• The incumbent operates digital radiographic computer systems, assists physician in procedure by performing scrub person duties and injection of contrast
• The incumbent will be able to complete individual cases by pulling sheaths and holding pressure to obtain hemostasis
• They will set up the surgical instruments, catheters, radiographic contrast injectors, and radiographic imaging devices needed for each separate procedure
• The incumbent has expertise in data acquisition, data storage and rearrangement, data retrieval, independent operation of programs used to analyze a variety of cardiac functions (ie., coronary anatomy, coronary flow reserve, road mapping, LV function and EF calculation)
• They have the ability to troubleshoot equipment failures and independently correct the problem short of electrical involvement
• Calibration of instruments and calculations of pressures, heart rates and other recorded parameters
• Retrieving and re-calculation of data as necessary
• They have expertise in the archiving of images to CD and within the PACS cardiology systems
• They will maintain a logbook of all cath lab procedures and CD storage system
• They will prep patients prior to procedures
• The incumbent will aid in patient teaching, pre, intra and post procedure, filing of reports in patient charts and within cardiology files
• The incumbent will assure that pre-note and consent are completed and placed in the cardiology file
• They will maintain accurate documentation of lot number, type and amount of contrast media used in the electronic chart as well as in the log book
• EKG Duties The incumbent independently performs the full range of electrocardiography procedures and related examinations without supervision, such as applying ambulatory monitoring devices, event monitor strip recordings, and editing EKG, holter, and treadmill reports via the PACS System
• They will utilize the PACS cardiology storage system
• They will operate diagnostic medical equipment as part of treatment of the patient
• The incumbent will receive requests and/or consults for procedures
• They will help assist the cardiologist with Interpreting request for appropriateness of requested procedure for patient's ability to perform prescribed test
• Employee understands and carries out the appropriate requests made by practitioners or seeks assistance of the supervisor when an uncommon, unique, or new procedure ls 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
• Explains requirements for accurate monitoring and necessity of diary entries
• Answers questions by patient and or family members
• Performs stress testing with extensive knowledge and experience
• This requires extensive experience in operating and assisting of the specialized equipment related to the specialization of the position
• Schedules patients for stress testing
• Performs Holter/Event monitoring specialty at an extensive level
• This specialty area requires extensive experience in applying, operating and instructing in Holter and Event monitoring equipment
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m
• 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized