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The incumbent will serve as a Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) Cardiovascular Tech, located at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, assigned to the Medicine Service. BASIC REQUIREMENTS (All applicants must meet the following basic requirements): a. Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. 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. c. 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." 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. d. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/54, Part II, Appendix G-27, Appendix E., Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) Qualification Standard. Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-07 candidates must have all of the following: 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias. 2. Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures. 3. 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. 4. Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians. 5. Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation. 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. Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing, ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients. They monitor tracings to identify arrhythmias and when gross abnormalities appear, when to repeat certain procedures, when to stop test procedures, and when to get the immediate attention of a physician. They evaluate test results to determine appropriate machine adjustments and use alternative techniques and procedures when established procedures do not accomplish acceptable results. This includes adapting equipment and accessories to yield the best results during the examination. They edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician. Preferred Experience: EKG, Holter, Pacemaker, and Stress Test experience. (PLEASE DEMONSTRATE ON RESUME) 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. ["Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Ability to evaluate test results and patient responses to the extent of determining appropriate machine adjustments in selecting the method and techniques that will yield the best results. The incumbent in this position recognizes evidences of cardiac emergencies, including acute infarction and serious arrhythmias, from tracings and take appropriate action including notification of the physician and initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The technician is also responsible for receiving, entering data, scheduling and notification of procedure date and time in the patient computerized record system. Incumbent is required to recognize normal and abnormal heart patterns including acute infarction and determine appropriate techniques for best results. Technician is required to operate the EKG/CASE machine in coordination with treadmill equipment, monitor the patient's capacity for exercise tolerance with increased stress throughout the test. The technician must accurately observe the patient's condition, making notation of vital signs and other diagnostic information in accordance with established practices and in response to physician's demand or changes in the patient's condition. Technician explains monitoring procedures to the patient and instructs them on its operation. Technician removes monitor from patient, downloads the information into the MARS system and clean monitor for next use. Technician must be able to recognize abnormal heart patterns, cardiac emergencies and report serious findings to the provider immediately. The technician performs pacemaker data entry by assisting the provider with documentation of device interrogations, scheduling of patients in the pacemaker clinic or home pacemaker monitoring. Technician will assist the provider in monitoring the home pacemaker reports and notifying the provider of any abnormal report. Perform electrocardiograms, routine downloading on MAC 15's throughout the facility and editing EKG's on the MUSE equipment. Operates and monitors electrocardiographic equipment including operating and monitoring cardio scope tracings. Independently perform a variety of procedures such as; setting up, monitoring, and calibrating equipment. Knowledge required to document pacemaker interrogation and battery check done by pacemaker representative or provider, MUSE EKG system and Marquette Holter Monitoring System. Perform routine clerical procedures for the purpose of: maintaining accurate records so that easy recall of patient examinations may be achieved. Maintains adequate supplies so that examinations are not delayed due to lack of necessary equipment and supplies. The incumbent in this position must be aware of and practice the safety policies/procedures of the medical center and participate in quality assurance activities as directed. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required\nFunctional Statement: Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) GS-0649-06, 07."]