Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

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Major duties for this position may include (but are not limited to):

• The electrocardiographic technician executes position responsibilities that demonstrate teamwork and creative approaches to obtaining high quality electrocardiographic tracings including:
  • Ability to perform quality 12-Lead ECG tracings
  • Ability to apply and educate patients on purpose and operation of cardiac event monitors
  • Ability to perform and download ECG tracing from ECG machines, cardiac event monitors and exercise stress tests for reviewing and can print results for physicians
  • Ability to perform daily preventative care maintenance on equipment used in the Heart Station.
  • Knowledge to troubleshoot minor problems and report significant problems to Bio-Medical Engineering
  • Knowledge of safety and infection control policies, RME protocols, and able to carry out those standards in patient care
  • Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing to peers and work as a team to provide the safe and efficient care possible.
• The electrocardiographic technician independently performs all functions of the above tests to include:
  • Knowledge and responsibility for maintaining GE MAC VU 360 ECG machines and GE MUSE patient record system.
  • Ability to download ECG results from the ECG machine to MUSE network and download cardiac event monitor tracings using the MARS system
  • Ability to maintain correct patient records in the MUSE system, including ensuring that orders are correct in CPRS with results attached
  • Knowledge of proper electrode placement, skin preparation, and lead placement for event monitors and stress tests.
  • Ability to operate, maintain, and perform minor repairs on the MAC VU 360 ECG machines, stress ECG monitor, treadmill exercise machine, and cardiac event monitors.
• Electrocardiographic lab programmatic/administrative:
  • Verifying the EHR for ECG orders.
  • Performance and management of ECGs as outlined in this MCP 544-111-8 and SOP 544-118-77 and demonstrated training competency, using correct inputs for Veteran demographics.
  • Barcode scanning is the preferred method for entry of Veteran data into ECG carts, to minimize data entry errors. If barcode scanning is not available, then the full social security number should be entered for Veteran identification.
  • If working under Cardiology in the ECG Laboratory, ensuring that ECG studies are properly routed into physician in-basket for reading, using the Cardiology ECG Administrator as a resource if needed.
  • If working under Cardiology in the ECG Laboratory, periodic review, but no less than weekly, of ECG carts within VAMC hospital facilities in non-Cardiology areas, to evaluate for ECG studies which may be retained on the local ECG carts but not properly transmitted to the ECG Management System.
  • If working under Cardiology in the ECG Laboratory, periodic review, but no less than weekly, of ECG carts at sites distant to the VAMC including CBOC facilities, if these facilities perform ECG studies. These reviews will need to be coordinated with the on-site CBOC clinical teams and performed virtually.
  • Ability to upload ECG data to event capture
  • Ensures adequate inventory levels of ECG instrumentation and supplies are maintained by submission of procurement requests prior to anticipated needs.
  • Equipment/supplies will be appropriately maintained in accordance with Medical Center infection control guidelines; promptly notifies supervisor of equipment malfunction and/or supply deficiencies. Serves as a liaison with Bio-Medical Services as directed.
  • Completes and documents reminder calls for assigned provider clinics
  • Other duties as needed within scope

Performs other necessary duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F, 7:00AM-3:30PM or 7:30AM-4:00PM EST. May vary based on the needs of the agency.
Recruitment Incentive: None
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 #: 61176F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English 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/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.

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.
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
• 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.

NOTE: 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).

GS7 GRADE AND TITLE REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.
  • GS6 Assignment: Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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.

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

Physical Requirements: The work environments include the cardiology outpatient setting and patient care areas to include other inpatient/outpatient areas, ICU's and CLC. Technicians will be exposed to patients with various illnesses and diseases and must exercise caution in practicing effective infection control procedures. Technicians must be aware and wear appropriate protective clothing as needed. Technicians follow all safety precautions and regulations, especially when working with equipment and patients.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. All other applicants.

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.