Summary

Birmingham VA Health Care Systems encourages recent Medical Instrument Technician graduates and trainees to join our team and develop their skills at the GS 4 and GS 5 grade levels in the Telemetry Unit within the Patient Care Service Line. This vacancy ranges from grades 4-7. Come and grow with us!

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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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: 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: GS-4 (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: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
• OR - 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
• GS-5 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: 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
• OR - 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 GS-06 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:
• 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
• GS-07 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: 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
• Preferred Experience: Performs 12-Lead EKGs - Maintains patient cardiac rhythm tracing record and other accompanying documentation Operates and monitor EKG equipment - Has practical knowledge of treatment procedures
• References: VA Handbook 5005 Part 2 - Appendix G27The 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-04 to GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Implements and monitors OSHA goals for Life Safety Management - health - and the environment procedures
• Reports safety hazards - accidents - and injuries
• Implements - monitors and reviews hazardous materials/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/waste management - fire protection
• Implements and monitors Emergency Preparedness plan
• Implements and monitors security policies/procedures
• Implements and monitors compliance with federal - state - and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution - minimizing waste - and conserving cultural and natural resources.

Duties

• This position requires the Medical Instrument Technician to work rotating shifts - weekends - and holidays to meet the operational needs of the unit
• The MIT's functions are to monitor the patient's electrocardiogram (EKG) waveforms in a centralized station and notify the appropriate clinical staff as directed
• The incumbent be willing to work cooperatively as a member of the inpatient team and demonstrate customer service principles in all aspects of work
• The MIT will perform job duties independently and in accordance with established departmental and hospital procedures - including telemetry monitoring and patient care-related tasks
• The MIT reports to the Telemetry Unit Nurse Manager but must work in collaboration with all members of the patient care team
• Assesses compliance with Joint Commission (JC) and other program review criteria that governs service and ensures that requirements are in place and functioning properly as evidenced by both internal and external reviews
• Demonstrates participation and knowledge in the facility's Compliance and Business Integrity Program to prevent violations of the law as well as maintaining high ethical standards
• The technician provides continuous cardiac rhythm interpretation and reporting of monitor tracing of patients to appropriate clinical staff
• The technician performs cardiac monitoring activities that include initiating - monitoring - recording - interpreting - documenting - and discontinuing telemetry
• Other MIT duties include - but are not limited to the following: Continuously monitors electrocardiogram (EKG) tracings
• Be skilled in interpreting a variety of normal and abnormal EKG tracings and communicates the information to appropriate clinical staff
• Recognizes changes in patients' condition and is astute in identifying the need for intervention Performs 12-Lead EKGs
• Continuously monitors electrocardiogram (EKG) tracings
• Be skilled in interpreting a variety of normal and abnormal EKG tracings and communicates the information to appropriate clinical staff
• Recognizes changes in patients' condition and is astute in identifying the need for intervention
• Performs 12-Lead EKGs
• Work Schedule: Varies schedules available to include nights - weekends and holidays Functional Statement #:51399 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required