Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

Veterans Health Administration • Birmingham, AL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) works in the Telemetry Unit within the Patient Care Service Line at the Birmingham VA Health Care System. The role continuously monitors electrocardiogram tracings, interprets normal and abnormal readings, recognizes changes in patients’ conditions, and communicates relevant information to clinical staff. The technician uses knowledge of medical terminology, cardiac conditions, and the effects of medical and nursing therapies to support patient care.

The position operates and monitors EKG and telemetry equipment, maintains cardiac rhythm records and related documentation, edits tracings for provider review, and sets provider-established alarm parameters. The technician follows escalation and emergency procedures, checks equipment integrity, troubleshoots technical issues, coordinates repairs, and tracks equipment as patients are transferred or discharged. The role also evaluates patients for discharge from telemetry in collaboration with providers, works with multidisciplinary teams, and may perform supplemental downtime patient-care tasks.

The position is based at the Birmingham VA Medical Center, a 139-bed tertiary care teaching hospital serving Veterans in Alabama. The work schedule is 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with rotating tours to meet staffing demands, including rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The vacancy’s full performance level is GS-8; selection is at GS-6 or GS-7.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-6: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, demonstrating relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-6: Ability to recognize special patient needs, including disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions, and to prepare and position patients for procedures.
• For GS-6: Knowledge of specialized Holter monitoring equipment and accessories and ability to perform such tests.
• For GS-6: Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques, and ability to follow CDC equipment-cleaning guidelines.
• For GS-6: Ability to monitor patients for adverse reactions and take appropriate action.
• For GS-6: Ability to operate equipment for standard and routine specialized procedures, including exercise stress testing.
• For GS-7: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, including knowledge of equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings such as arrhythmias and abnormalities.
• For GS-7: Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress, including ability to recognize, report, and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
• For GS-7: Knowledge of common equipment settings, standardized procedures, common errors, and corrective measures.
• For GS-7: Ability to modify procedures or positioning to obtain correct results for patients with complicating conditions.
• For GS-7: Ability to mentor or precept lower-graded technicians and conduct in-service training on EKG equipment and related instrumentation.
• Ability to meet pre-employment requirements, including a physical evaluation or examination, background/security investigation, and applicable drug testing.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete required application and onboarding requirements and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of telemetry experience.
• BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification; desirable at GS-6 and above.
• BCLS and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications; desirable at GS-7 and above.

Responsibilities

• Continuously monitor electrocardiogram tracings.
• Interpret normal and abnormal EKG tracings and communicate information to appropriate clinical staff.
• Recognize changes in patients’ conditions and identify when intervention may be needed.
• Operate and monitor EKG and telemetry equipment.
• Maintain patient cardiac rhythm records and associated documentation, and keep logs of monitored patients and equipment usage.
• Edit and select appropriate tracing samples for provider review.
• Set alarm parameters established by the provider.
• Follow escalation policies and emergency procedures.
• Evaluate equipment integrity before placement on a patient and throughout telemetry monitoring.
• Troubleshoot technical equipment issues, coordinate repairs, and escalate issues to the nurse manager as appropriate.
• Track telemetry equipment as patients are discharged or transferred.
• Evaluate patients for discharge from telemetry in collaboration with providers.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support patient care plans.
• Perform supplemental downtime duties, which may include additional patient-care tasks.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Child care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed