Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry/Electrocardiograph Technician) position is located within the Telemetry/Step-Down unit within the Critical Care department at the SLC VAMC. The MIT's functions are to monitor the Central Information Computer (Telemetry Monitor) which displays patients' electrocardiographic waveforms - remote pulse oximetry - and hemodynamic measurements and notify primary nurses and clinical staff as directed

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 in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of the qualification standard (June 7 - 2012) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation Grade Determinations: GS-4 Experience or 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 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
• OR 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic medical terminology Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted Ability to communicate orally and in writing GS-5 Experience or 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 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
• OR 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine GS-6 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests
• Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment
• Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action
• Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing
• Certification: No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification
• GS-7 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize - report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias
• Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures
• 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
• Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
• Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation
• 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 Preferred Experience: Rhythm interpretation - EKG certification - general computer knowledge 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work requires at various intervals - long periods of sitting to observe cardiac rhythms on EKG telemetry monitors
• Incumbent experiences extended periods during which continual visualization of monitors - various equipment - and computer screens is required
• Incumbent assists in positioning patients - placing EKG/Telemetry leads as needed.

Duties

• Recognizes typical patient reactions and signs of distress and recognize - report - and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias
• Maintains common equipment settings and standardized procedures and troubleshoot common errors with corrective measures
• Modifies procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations - · Parkinson's disease - · structural defects - and scar tissue
• Acts as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
• Conducts in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation
• Uses specialized equipment such as EKG machines - CIC - remote telemetry monitors
• Monitors ECG tracings
• Interprets a variety of normal - abnormal - and life-threatening arrhythmias and communicates information to the appropriate clinical provider
• Recognizes acute changes in patients' condition and identifies the need for intervention
• Has practical knowledge of bedside procedures performed within the Telemetry/Step-Down Unit (e.g
• cardioversions - transesophageal echocardiograms)
• Maintains patients' cardiac rhythm trends by documenting appropriate rhythms - interval measurements - and other clinical changes in the medical record
• Monitors remote pulse oximetry (Sp02) - arterial blood pressure (IABP) - central venous pressure (CVP) as indicated by the provider orders and clinical condition of the patient
• Detects and notifies appropriate clinical staff of changes in Sp02 - IABP - CVP in a timely manner
• Selects appropriate sample portions of tracings for review by providers
• Gives providers relevant clinical information about trends and events that occur during telemetry monitoring
• Manages alarm settings and parameters within policy and provider orders as indicated by the clinical condition of the patient
• Receives STEMI call notifications from providers and initiates STEMI paging cascade in a timely manner - documents actions appropriately
• Evaluates the integrity of equipment used for telemetry monitoring for integrity - cleanliness - and serviceability prior to use on patients and during the duration of monitoring
• Work Schedule: Rotation Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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
• Functional Statement #: 53811-A
• 53812-A
• 53813-A
• 53814-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized