Clarification from the agency

Open to all current, permanent, employees of Tennessee Valley HCS. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Medical Instrument Technician (Electrocardiograph/Telemetry) will function independently in operating and monitoring electrocardiographic equipment for continuous telemetry rhythm evaluation and interpretation at Tennessee Valley VA Healthcare System. They will remotely monitor the continuous cardiac rhythms for up to 50 patients under the direction of the RN and medical providers. They will have basic knowledge and understanding of each patient's specific medical history and make adjustments to the equipment parameters and settings to accomplish best monitoring function. Located on 1A Medical Unit and entails Telemetry Monitoring Duty.

Functions:
a. Collect, analyze and integrate patient information to identify and meet patient-specific needs (physical/mental limitations, current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure, pertinent medical/social history), and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician and protocols.
b. Complete and verify documentation.
c. Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.
d. Informs the provider of the action taken and directs the results to him/her in a timely manner.
e. Enters test results and other pertinent patient information into the computer on a timely basis as directed by the cardiologist.
f. Gather and Analyze Patient Information.
g. Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary.
h. Perform EKG data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments, if necessary.
i. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of adult and geriatric patents.
j. Generate accurate reports and clinical event data.
k. Upon request for an emergency procedure with an immediate report, the results will be shown to the interpreting physician as soon as the test is completed and often must convey the report to the requesting physician.
l. Although not responsible for interpretation of the results, the incumbent must know through experience how to recognize abnormalities and promptly bring them to the attention of the supervisor.
m. Recognizes cardiac arrhythmias and makes extended or multiple recordings when the cardiac rhythm is abnormal.
n. Recognizes cardiac emergencies from unread or interpreted tracings, Takes appropriate action including notification of a physician so that emergency measures may be instituted as quickly as possible.
o. The incumbent manages distribution and application of ambulatory EKG monitoring devices. This requires knowledge of the equipment, including lead placement to the correct anatomical areas after proper preparation of the: patient, and instruction of the patient in his/her role in the procedure and operation.
p. Obtains and records patients' vital signs.
q. Enters note in CPRS.
r. Assist with controlled exercise tests to evaluate the status of selected patients. Both physical (treadmill) and chemical (dipyridamole, dobutamine, adenosine, etc.) forms of stress may be employed. All forms of stress are performed with electrocardiographic monitoring and may be followed by nuclear imaging (thallium, sestamibi, etc.)
s. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Based on the needs of the service.
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
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 #: 71131-F, 71130-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 at this grade level for this occupation .
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable are strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Grandfathering Provision: Applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-6 EXPERIENCE: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS-5 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:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the GS-6
1. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels.
2. Knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and their relationship to hemodynamic conditions of the cardiac cycle.
3. Knowledge of basic cardiac ultrasound physics and the acoustic mechanisms by which high quality cardiac images are obtained.
4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures.
5. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure.

CERTIFICATION: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

ASSIGNMENT: Echocardiography technician assignments at this level involve performing routine, standardized cardiac ultrasound examinations under the supervision of a fully qualified cardiac sonographer. The work involves generating adequate gray scale images to define cardiac borders and learning to perform Doppler integration of cardiac valves for determination of flow velocities.

GS-7 EXPERIENCE: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS-6 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. Ability to scan transthoracic echocardiograms in all views with colorflow and some Doppler.
2. Ability to conduct cardiac testing to determine the severity and variety of cardiac problems, i.e., valvular dysfunction, myocardial wall kinesia, effusions, endocardial lesions, etc.
3. Knowledge of the set-up for transesophageal echocardiograms.
4. Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for more complex, but standardized procedures.

CERTIFICATION. BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications are desirable.

ASSIGNMENT. At this level, medical instrument technicians (echocardiography) perform a range of standard, but complex, echocardiographic examinations with responsibility for calibrating all instruments prior to the procedure. They are expected to keep an accurate record of tests, daily logs, and videotapes. They maintain cidex logs.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, occasional crouching or kneeling. Moderate lifting may be required to move equipment throughout the Medical Center locations. Considerable manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are continuously required while performing respiratory therapy procedures. This includes observation of a computer screen. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation demands coordination and stamina.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.