EKG Technician

Scheduled Hours:  Part Time (20 hours per week); Need to be able to work Day and PM Shift; possibly some overnights.

Education/Experience Required:

• High school graduate. 1 year ECG or hospital related experience or graduate or current enrollment in an allied health program or health certificate program. Current CNA or EMT preferred.
• This position will need to recognize the needs & behaviors of a variety of age groups treated i.e., understand child growth & development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior & look for signs of normal aging; prior experience with various age groups is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Ability to work well with others
• Good organizational skills
• Good time management
• Good documentation/record keeping skills
• BCLS

Major Responsibilities:

• Responsible for performing routine and STAT request for ECG procedures
  •     1)Able to troubleshoot problems associated with performing ECG’s, i.e., calming anxious patients, distracting pediatric patients
  •     2)Prepares patient for procedure, respects patients privacy in an empathetic & gentle manner
  •     3)Obtains relevant patient history
  •     4)Maintains a timely flow of patient in room assignments or work areas
  •     5)Able to enter/edit data entered in ECG machine before transmission of data to mainframe
  •     6)Performs Holter and Event Monitor applications/removals/processing. Able to use and trouble shoot Holter and Event recorder equipment.
  •     7)Performs Pacemaker checks, transmit data and assure results are scanned to patient EMR.
• Provides clerical functions necessary for physician interpretation & confirmation, department record-keeping & patient billing
  •     1)Insures that appropriate procedure has been ordered & charged
  •     2)Collects all information for the interpreting physician & places the study to be read within 2 hours of order entry
  •     3)Completes procedures paperwork immediately following the study
  •     4)Edits ECG’s, Holters and Event reports then distributing all paperwork to cardiologists for review and signatures
  •     5)Maintains accurate and complete records of all tests performed including "listings" of all EKGs, holters, etc. Maintains daily counts, monthly reports, and data for P.I. activity.
  •     6)Participates in Performance Improvement activities.
  •     7)Maintains printers, able to change cartridges or initiate call to obtain service for all printers
  •     8)Understands and utilizes downtime procedures as needed.
• Interacts with medical staff, nurses & other hospital departments regarding patient care & departmental procedures
  •     1)Provides a copy of each ECG at the Nursing Station
  •     2)Identifies arrhythmias or critical findings and reports them immediately, as well as any other acute changes in patient condition. Timely notification to physicians and nursing personnel and follow critical values reporting criteria and documentation.
  •     3)Coordinate patient care with patient’s nurse and/or other ancillary departments
  •     4)Communicates with patient’s nurse if a patient care issue arises preventing an ECG from being done, i.e., dressings, central lines, uncooperative patient
• Participation in professional development & process improvement teams by attending inservices, meetings & continuing education programs appropriate to the goals & needs of the department
  •     4)Presents short inservices to familiarize department with ECG Technologist role, new or updated procedures as required
  •     5)Attends on campus or in-Advocate system conferences to increase knowledge on cardiology, teamwork or other subjects and actively pursues continuing education opportunities.
  •     6)Maintain up to date and current status with all mandatory System education and annual requirements.
  •     1)Attends & participates in department meetings in person or via conference call. Read minutes and stay current with updates within Advocate and the department
  •     2)Attends department inservice programs to insure technical competence
  •     3)Maintains CPR, stay current with any licensure requirements
• Provides training assistance to new employees and physicians.
  •     1)Provides education & troubleshooting assistance.
  •     2)Completes orientatee’s checklist & returns checklist to Cardiology Manager.
  •     3)Completes all annual technical and/or arrhythmia competencies and returns to Cardiology Manager.
• Maintains a safe, organized & efficient work environment
  •     1)Complies with safety standards & infection control practices
  •     2)Reports equipment malfunction immediately to clinical engineering and remove equipment from use. Reports operational problems & inventory depletion immediately to Cardiology Management.
  •     3)Maintains the cleanliness of the department & equipment

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work weekends, holidays and STAT call ins in order to accommodate staffing needs. Ability to perform a medium amount of lifting & transferring related to patient care (i.e., lifting up to 20-50 lbs occasionally) Exposure to ill patients, may be exposed to blood & urine samples Ability to transcribe medical information. Ability to push equipment (i.e., ECG machine) Ability to communicate with patients Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.