EKG Technician-Varied Shifts

Purpose :

Perform electrocardiographic testing / signal averaging and Holter monitor / Event Monitor testing as a service to inpatients and outpatients of the UPMC Health System and perform necessary support functions to complete the testing and report procedures.

Responsibilities :

Manage daily care and maintenance of expensive digital transmitting electrocardiographic equipment.

Interact with vendors on monitor readings, supplies and equipment returns.

Rotate shifts and work weekends, holidays and double shifts as assigned by the supervisor and per department policy.

Acquire electrocardiograms in a manner compatible with the electrocardiographic management system. Recognize and resolve computer error messages generated by the electrocardiographic carts. Assist other departments / units and satellite areas in this regard as well.

Apply for Holter Monitoring / Event Monitoring and remove monitors as assigned.

Interact with electrocardiographic management, hospital HER systems via terminal to edit reports, cancel / complete patient charges as appropriate, verify and / or correct patient demographic information and retrieve EKGs for staff members as requested.

Exercise good judgment in the prioritization of work. Such judgment is especially critical when prioritizing the scheduling of several STAT electrocardiograms when requested proximately. If appropriate, the employee should discuss condition / situation of the patients with the unit staff in determining prioritization of the STAT requests.

Notify units of all critical value electrocardiographic reports. (Reports are starred by the physicians reading the electrocardiogram when the results are questionable. This is especially critical for patients that are scheduled for surgery.) Instruct the units to contact the patient's physician immediately.

During off shifts and weekends, complete all work without supervision to include basic knowledge of the operation and maintenance of the electrocardiographic management system.

Accountable for the accurate performance and follow through of tests in accordance with standard departmental procedures. Identify anatomical landmarks for the correct placement of the electrocardiographic leads.

Assist in teaching and orientation of new technicians. Monitor lead placement of both CHS and non-CHS personnel of quality control as assigned.

Provide care to adult and geriatric patients. Utilize skill in practical psychology to keep the patient physically and emotionally relaxed during the recording of the electrocardiogram. Conduct all patient relationships in a courteous, tactful and professional manner.

Deliver final electrocardiograph reports to patient units as directed.

High school diploma or equivalent. 6 months post-secondary education or experience in a health-related field is desired. Ability to walk efficiently to all UPMC Health System facilities / buildings while pushing the electrocardiographs in order to provide prompt electrocardiographic and Holter / Event monitoring services. Position also required a significant amount of bending. Available for overtime, shift changes and on-call work as required.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances :

Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

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UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran