Summary
The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) - EKG/Cardiac Telemetry technician, also referred to as Monitor Technician, is responsible for the remote surveillance and continuous monitoring of multiple patients' cardiac activity from a centralized telemetry monitoring station. This station supports multiple acute care and intensive care step-down units within the Washington DC VA Medical Center.
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Duties
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Major duties include, but are not limited to:
- Monitors cardiac and hemodynamic waveforms for assigned patients, promptly identifying abnormalities such as irregular heartbeats and arrhythmias or signs of potential cardiac arrest. The Monitor Technician must not leave the central telemetry room unattended and must ensure that they are relieved by an equally qualified monitor technician, a telemetry registered nurse, or another staff member trained in telemetry.
- Utilizes the e-caliper in the central monitoring system to measure P-R intervals, QRS complex widths, QT intervals, and ST segment deviations to detect abnormal changes accurately.
- Measures, prints, and interprets cardiac rhythm strips every four hours (Q4H) in accordance with monitoring protocols.
- Recognizes and reports any deviations in cardiac rate and rhythm, including significant issues such as QT prolongation and ST segment changes. This monitoring occurs in response to physician requests based on established parameters and thoroughly documents all related communications in the electronic medical record system.
- Provides clear and concise verbal and/or written patient medical reports to nurses, charge nurses, and providers to ensure effective communication, and to incoming MITs/Telemetry Technicians during shift hand-offs for continuity of care.
- Performs 12-lead EKGs on a STAT basis when required and ensure prompt delivery to the nursing staff in accordance with medical center policies and procedures.
- Maintains accurate documentation of patient's cardiac rhythm status in electronic medical record such as ICCA and CPRS, including relevant clinical interpretations and commentary.
- Maintains current knowledge of telemetry techniques and professional skills through continuing education and Talent Management System (TMS) training.
- Assists in the orientation and training of new employees on telemetry operations, EKG procedures, and unit-based documentation and communication protocols.
- Operates and troubleshoots central monitoring station equipment, replaces expendables as needed, and performs routine cleaning and basic maintenance of telemetry equipment.
- Applies knowledge of standard precautions and adheres to CDC guidelines when cleaning telemetry boxes, wires, and cables.
- Coordinates and ensures the availability of transmitters, lead cables, EKG electrodes, and other essential telemetry monitoring supplies to support uninterrupted patient care.
- Verifies proper functioning of medical devices, identifies potential malfunctions, performs basic troubleshooting, and collaborates with Clinical and Biomedical Engineering staff to ensure timely resolution.
- Maintains adequate inventory of supplies necessary for shift operations by coordinating with Logistics and ensuring a clean and organized work environment.
- Demonstrates caring behaviors by taking ownership of work, proactively engaging in tasks, and performing duties with deliberate attention to quality and detail.
- Exercises appropriate independent judgment and decision-making to ensure the safe and effective operation of the Central Telemetry Monitoring station.
- Complies with all mandatory training requirements, including annual cardiac rhythm/EKG interpretation refresher courses with successful passing grade, and other designated training programs.
- Will perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Rotating days and nights
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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.
Functional Statement #: 688-26561-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- 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.
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.
- 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. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
- 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". Note: For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.
- English Language Proficiency. 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 - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG):
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-5*) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled.
*Examples of duties at the GS-5 include but are not limited to: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instruction; Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment; Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities; Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures; Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- 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.
- Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests.
- Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment.
- Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action.
- Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing.
NOTE: Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification.
GS-7 - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG):
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-6*) 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.
*Examples of duties at the GS-5 include but are mot limited to: 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; Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests; Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment; Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action. Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing; 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.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
- Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures.
- 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.
- Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.
- Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation.
NOTE: Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification.
Preferred Experience:
- Two years of Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) experience.
Reference: For more information on this qualification sta
