Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs' Baltimore VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) in the Cardiology Department. The MIT/EKG will perform standard and complex EKG examinations and will maintain all instruments in advance of procedures, applying knowledge of arrhythmias and cardiovascular pathophysiology.

Qualifications include no strict education requirements; experience with equipment, arrhythmias, and the ability to mentor junior staff are valued.

Qualifications

• Experience with EKG equipment and standard tests including readings.
• Knowledge of arrhythmias and interpretation.
• Ability to modify procedures for patients with complicating conditions.
• Ability to mentor lower graded technicians.
• Ability to conduct in-service training on EKG equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform standard, complex electrocardiograph examinations.
• Maintain all instruments prior to procedures.
• Recognize and report potentially lethal arrhythmias.
• Mentor or precept lower graded technicians.
• Provide in-service training on EKG equipment.

Job description

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT/EKG) works within the Cardiology Department at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. The Medical Instrument Technician will perform a range of standard, but complex, electrocardiograph examinations with responsibility for maintaining all instruments prior to the procedure. The MIT/EKG technician possesses expertise in cardiac dysthymias, and the knowledge of normal and abnormal pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system.

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.
• Licensure or Certification: 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. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".
• 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).

Grandfathering Provision

The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

• Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations

Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) 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:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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.

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

1. Cardiac Stress Testing
2. Ambulatory Cardiac Monitors (Zio patch)
3. Performing EKG
4. Peripheral IV placement
5. Experience with MUSE

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 GS-07.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.