Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry Technician)

Summary

This Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry Technician) position is located in the Inpatient and Emergency Service Division at the Portland VA Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. This position provides cardiac telemetry monitoring for patients located on any of the acute care medical-surgical floors. There are up to 80 beds of telemetry at any given monitoring time frame.

Duties

• The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: GS-6 (developmental level) Complete tasks that are needed to support the Telemetry Studio. Operate and monitor cardiac telemetry equipment to perform specialized studies involving identification and notification of rhythm changes, as well as, arrhythmias, and measurements of the following rates and intervals: atrial rate, ventricular rate, PR, QRS, QT, QTC, R-R intervals. Select the most appropriate electrode configuration and choose the best lead selection for arrhythmia detection. Assign pagers and phones and monitor all equipment to ensure it is functioning appropriately. Perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures. Conduct alarm review and set alarm limits. The incumbent is the primary notification of arrhythmias to the RN caring for the patient and provide consultation to the medical team. If the arrhythmia identified is a potential lethal arrhythmia, they work with the RN to initiate an emergency code response. Additionally, the incumbent will become adept at admitting and discharging patients from the central monitor; Updating daily assignment board and sheet with current nurse, patient, pager and phone; Completing telemetry charging log sheets; Assuring that all telemetry orders are current and not expired; Completing and posting telemetry reports; Entering telemetry data; and Assuring that equipment, which is malfunctioning, is sent to BioMed with an accurate description of the malfunction. GS-7 (full performance level) Operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients. 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 by working with the RN to initiate an emergency code response. 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. Edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician. Have knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures Have the 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 Act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians Conduct in-service training on the telemetry equipment and related instrumentation. Be adept at admitting and discharging patients from the central monitor; Updating daily assignment board and sheet with current nurse, patient, pager and phone; Completing telemetry charging log sheets; Assuring that all telemetry orders are current and not expired; Completing and posting telemetry reports; Entering telemetry data; and Assuring that equipment, which is malfunctioning, is sent to BioMed with an accurate description of the malfunction. Assign pagers and phones and monitor all equipment to ensure it is functioning appropriately. They also conduct alarm review and set alarm limits. Work Schedule: Full-time, night shifts. 5:00pm - 5:30am. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 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-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 and 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 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. GS-7 (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, and Abilities1. 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 (telemetry) 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 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. 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-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-07.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Grade: GS 6 to 7. . Apply by 2027-09-30 on USAJOBS.