Career Center

Summary

Medical Instrument Technicians (Cardiac Catheterization) perform - under a physician's direction - diagnostic tests - both invasive and noninvasive - of the pulmonary system (lung) and the cardiovascular system (heart and circulation). They operate - monitor - and collect data from instruments used in procedures such as cardiac catheterization - angiography - valvuloplasty - angioplasty - electrophysiology studies - cardiac pacing - or cardiac pacemaker or lead wire insertion.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - per VA Handbook 5005 - Qualification Standards
• 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 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" Desired certifications include: Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Specialized Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level - GS-08 - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• This experience includes: Experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of cardiac catheterization technician services
• Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• Cardiac catheterization technicians at this level function as full members of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Team
• They scrub - circulate - operate equipment - etc. - on the most complex examination and treatment procedures including procedures such as endocardial biopsy - radio frequency ablation procedures - and intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for very critical patients
• They prepare and administer cardiac medications as directed by the attending physician
• They mentor and train lower graded technicians - nurses - nursing students - and cardiopulmonary technology students on cardiac catheterization laboratory procedures and assist the supervisor/manager with quality control and performance improvement activities
• Additionally - the knowledge - skills - and abilities at the next lower grade level (GS-8) are: Ability to scrub - circulate - and monitor advanced procedures (including electrophysiological) to include rotoblation - intravascular ultrasound - RADI or wave-wire - angio-jet - filter wires - myocardial biopsies EPS - permanent pacemaker insertions - AICD insertions - and biventricular pacemaker insertion
• Advanced knowledge of equipment - medications - and supplies used in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the ability to set-up - calibrate - operate - and troubleshoot this equipment
• Knowledge and understanding of wave forms from the great vessels and all chambers of the heart including the ability to recognize and distinguish normal from abnormal - artifact from abnormality - and forewarn the physician of an impending life-threatening situation
• Knowledge of quality control and performance improvement indicators for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and ability to prepare and analyze quality control of test results
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• If selected - you may be required to submit narrative responses then
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs at the GS-09 grade level and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):: Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures - to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects - and to write policies - procedures - and protocols - that pertain to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
• *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• *Ability to manage and supervise employees
• *Ability to provide - or provide for - staff development and training
• Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level
• Preferred Experience: IABP/Impella experience Pacer/CD device scrub experience Clinical Certification Experience in Cath Lab EP experience Scrub experience ACLS Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires - occasional heavy lifting - (45 pounds and over) - occasional heavy carrying (45 pounds and over) - moderate straight pulling - frequent patient positioning on exam table - moderate walking - occasional climbing - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing aid (permitted) - emotional stability - ability to hear whispered voice - the use of fingers - reaching above shoulder - prolonged standing (6-8 hrs.) - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

Duties

• The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) - Cardiac Catheterization serves in Patient Care Services at the Thomas H
• Corey VA Medical Center
• Cardiac Catheterization/Electrophysiology Technicians perform - under a physician's direction - diagnostic tests - both invasive and noninvasive - of the pulmonary system (lung) and the cardiovascular system (heart and circulation)
• The MIT (Cardiac Catheterization) duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Cardiac Catheterization Technician at this level function as full members of the Laboratory Team
• They scrub - circulate - operate equipment - etc. - on the most complex examination and treatment procedures such as left and right hearth catheterizations - percutaneous coronary - carotid and peripheral interventions - endocardial biopsy - radio frequency ablation procedures - and intra-aortic balloon pump therapy
• They mentor and train lower graded technicians - nursing students - and cardiopulmonary/electrophysiology technology students on laboratory procedures and assist the supervisor/manager with quality control and performance improvement activities
• Provides technical assistance to the cardiologist during all procedures occurring in the Cath lab/Electrophysiology lab
• These duties include but are not limited to: LHC - RHC - PCI - Stent deployment - IABP - TAVR - Atherectomies - pericardiocentesis - biopsies - temporary pacemakers - EP studies - permanent pacemaker and ICD placement
• Monitors the progression of procedures requiring independent judgment in order to provide specific instrument and or catheters - as they are needed in anticipation of request
• Assists the unit manager improving technical training for new employees - fellows and students
• Directs patient inquiries to appropriate person
• Be able to function independently during a diagnostic catheterization from patient preparation table setup - scrub - hemodynamic monitoring - circulate - sheath pulling and patient education
• Be able to assist with more complicated procedures such as right heart catheterization - temporary pacemaker insertions - intra-aortic balloon pump - Percutaneous Transluminal Cardiac Angioplasty (PTCA) and peripheral vascular studies
• Accurate monitoring and recording of intra-vascular pressures and electrocardiograph tracings require knowledge of normal/abnormal waveforms and cardiac rhythms
• Must distinguish electrical artifact from normal/abnormal pressures and EKG patterns
• Operates digital radiographic computer systems - assists physician in procedure by performing scrub person duties - injection of contrast - and/or panning during the procedure
• Has expertise in data acquisition - data storage and rearrangement - data retrieval - independent operation of programs used to analyze a variety of cardiac functions (i.e. - coronary anatomy - coronary flow reserve - mapping - LV function and EF calculation)
• Assist with trouble shooting equipment failures and correct the problem short of electrical involvement
• Calibration of instruments and calculation of all pressures - heart rates and other recorded parameters
• Retrieving and re-calculation of data as necessary
• Ability to archive images in both CD and PAC systems
• Preps patient prior to procedures
• Preferred Experience: IABP/Impella experience Pacer/ICD device scrub experience Clinical Certification Experience in Cath Lab EP experience Scrub experience ACLS Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified candidate
• 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) Functional Statement #: PD41053F