Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry Technician)

Veterans Health Administration • Portland, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Telemetry Technician) position is in the Inpatient and Emergency Service Division at the Portland VA Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. The role provides cardiac telemetry monitoring for patients on acute care medical-surgical floors, monitoring up to 80 telemetry beds at a time. The full performance level is GS-7; selections may be made at GS-6 or GS-7.

At the GS-6 developmental level, the technician supports the Telemetry Studio and operates and monitors cardiac telemetry equipment. Duties include identifying and reporting rhythm changes and arrhythmias; measuring atrial and ventricular rates and PR, QRS, QT, QTC, and R-R intervals; choosing appropriate electrode configurations and leads; assigning pagers and phones; checking equipment; reviewing alarms and setting alarm limits; and notifying the patient's RN of arrhythmias. For potentially lethal arrhythmias, the technician works with the RN to initiate an emergency code response. The technician also manages central-monitor admissions and discharges, updates assignment records, completes charging logs and telemetry reports, enters telemetry data, checks that orders are current, and sends malfunctioning equipment to BioMed with a description of the problem.

At the GS-7 full performance level, the technician operates and monitors electrocardiographic equipment for specialized examinations and studies, including ambulatory arrhythmia monitoring and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients. The technician evaluates tracings and test results, determines when procedures should be repeated or stopped and when immediate physician attention is needed, adjusts equipment or uses alternative techniques as appropriate, and selects tracing samples for physician interpretation. The role also includes mentoring lower-graded technicians and conducting in-service training on telemetry equipment and related instrumentation.

The position is full-time, with a night schedule of 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation or recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level for the grade sought.
• For GS-6, ability to recognize patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions to prepare and position patients for procedures.
• For GS-6, knowledge of specialized equipment and accessories for Holter monitoring 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 highly specialized procedures, including exercise stress testing.
• 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 patient positions to obtain correct results for patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue.
• For GS-7, ability to mentor or precept lower-graded technicians and conduct in-service training on EKG (telemetry) equipment and related instrumentation.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Applicants selected for a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selected applicants must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements, complete online onboarding and application documentation, and pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• A 1- or 2-year trial period is required, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification is desirable at GS-6.
• BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications are desirable at GS-7.

Responsibilities

• Support the Telemetry Studio and operate and monitor cardiac telemetry equipment.
• Identify and report rhythm changes and arrhythmias, and measure atrial and ventricular rates and PR, QRS, QT, QTC, and R-R intervals.
• Select appropriate electrode configurations and leads for arrhythmia detection.
• Assign pagers and phones and monitor equipment to ensure it is functioning appropriately.
• Review alarms and set alarm limits.
• Notify the patient's RN of identified arrhythmias and work with the RN to initiate an emergency code response for potentially lethal arrhythmias.
• Admit and discharge patients from the central monitor; update daily assignment boards and sheets with current nurse, patient, pager, and phone information.
• Complete telemetry charging logs and reports, enter telemetry data, and ensure telemetry orders are current and unexpired.
• Send malfunctioning equipment to BioMed with an accurate description of the malfunction.
• Operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment for specialized studies, including ambulatory arrhythmia monitoring and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients.
• Monitor tracings, identify arrhythmias and gross abnormalities, and determine when to repeat or stop procedures or seek immediate physician attention.
• Evaluate test results, adjust equipment, adapt equipment and accessories, and use alternative techniques when established procedures do not produce acceptable results.
• Edit and select appropriate tracing samples for physician interpretation.
• Mentor or precept lower-graded technicians and conduct in-service training on telemetry equipment and related instrumentation.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits are available to the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior federal or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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