Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry Technician)

Summary

This Medical Instrument 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

Duties will include but are not limited to: 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. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time, night shifts. 5:00pm - 5:30am. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: 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. 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). 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 wo