Virtual Cardio-Pulmonary Tech

at  Dignity Health

Overview
CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health. With more than 700 care sites across the U.S. from clinics and hospitals to home-based care and virtual care services CommonSpirit is accessible to nearly one out of every four U.S. residents. Our world needs compassion like never before. Our communities need caring and our families need protection. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.
Responsibilities
This complex position is responsible for performing remote surveillance for multiple locations, specific to cardio-pulmonary rhythms via a central monitoring station, and for recognizing, recording and reporting potentially dangerous rhythm changes and arrhythmias following established standards and procedures per applicable regulatory requirements. Work is primarily performed in a centralized monitoring unit under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

Work requires:

• Ability to adapt quickly to new working environments, taking appropriate action and follow established protocols in notifying RN staff of changes in cardiac rhythm and arrhythmias.
• Knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to learn, procedures and equipment, and terminology applicable to the operations of the assigned work unit.
• Ability to travel from one location to another as staffing needs dictate (13 week assignments)

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

• Monitors patient’s cardiac rhythms and/or oxygen saturation using appropriate cardiac monitoring equipment; obtains a baseline ECG strip on all monitored patients according to department guidelines; records and posts cardiac strips in accordance with established procedures. Updates and verifies patient data in the information system; maintains unit/department specific records as assigned.
• Ability to perform at a fast pace where each Technician can potentially watch up to 64 patients using advanced telemetry and communication technologies.
• Recognizes rhythms with the potential to alter the patient’s physiology and obtains a documentary ECG strip; immediately reports all arrhythmias to the RN responsible for the patient in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintains current knowledge of the technical operation and capabilities of the central monitoring station; maintains alarm systems according to established protocols and responds appropriately to monitor alarms; identifies/troubleshoots routine technical problems with the monitors and sends work orders for maintenance/clinical engineering repairs as necessary.
• Handles incoming and outgoing communications, answers questions, and assists staff in accordance with established procedures.
• Provides/gives accurate shift reports to other monitor technicians, relating to patient’s condition and rhythm status consistently at every change of shift.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with all parties involved.
• Communicates with bedside staff in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintains a safe work and patient environment, adhering to the Safety, Risk Management and Regulatory Standards and if applicable infection prevention.
• Maintains a neat and organized work environment; orders, stocks and replenishes supplies and equipment as necessary; identifies and reports problems with supplies or equipment; enters equipment repair requests in system, tags equipment and removes from service.
• Participates in quality assurance/improvement initiatives and activities; participates in growth opportunities.
• As a travel employee; understands the market, division as well as local culture and relationships.
• Adapts to and collaborates with all internal and external patients/clients within and across systems in a timely manner.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 2 years of recent electrocardiogram technician experience that would demonstrate attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities.
• Successful completion of a Basic EKG test is required within 90 days of hire.
• Basic and/or Advanced EKG Certificate, EMT Certificate or Cardio-Pulmonary Certificate
• Knowledge of standards, procedures and equipment relating to the monitoring and documenting of cardiac rhythms.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, procedures and equipment applicable to the operations of the assigned work unit
• Knowledge of medical terminology and abbreviations sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
• Knowledge of contemporary office principles, practices, systems and equipment.
• Ability to accurately recognize cardiac rhythms and to detect arrhythmias.
• Ability to take appropriate action and follow established protocols in notifying RN staff of changes in cardiac rhythm and arrhythmias.
• Ability to troubleshoot routine technical monitor problems.
• Ability to perform basic math calculations, including addition and subtraction.
• Ability to understand and apply instructions provided by the supervisor in charge.
• Ability to understand and adhere to procedures relating to protected healthcare information, safety and risk management.
• Ability to read, understand and communicate in English sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to use office equipment and automated systems/applications/software at an acceptable level.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by the duties of the position.
• Satisfactory completion of the competency-based training program as a Monitor Technician at CommonSpirit Health

Preferred:

• Graduation from one of the following accredited programs, including EKG Interpretation
• Monitor Technician
• Health Unit Coordinator
• Associate’s degree in EKG Technology.

• Monitors patient’s cardiac rhythms and/or oxygen saturation using appropriate cardiac monitoring equipment; obtains a baseline ECG strip on all monitored patients according to department guidelines; records and posts cardiac strips in accordance with established procedures. Updates and verifies patient data in the information system; maintains unit/department specific records as assigned.
• Ability to perform at a fast pace where each Technician can potentially watch up to 64 patients using advanced telemetry and communication technologies.
• Recognizes rhythms with the potential to alter the patient’s physiology and obtains a documentary ECG strip; immediately reports all arrhythmias to the RN responsible for the patient in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintains current knowledge of the technical operation and capabilities of the central monitoring station; maintains alarm systems according to established protocols and responds appropriately to monitor alarms; identifies/troubleshoots routine technical problems with the monitors and sends work orders for maintenance/clinical engineering repairs as necessary.
• Handles incoming and outgoing communications, answers questions, and assists staff in accordance with established procedures.
• Provides/gives accurate shift reports to other monitor technicians, relating to patient’s condition and rhythm status consistently at every change of shift.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with all parties involved.
• Communicates with bedside staff in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintains a safe work and patient environment, adhering to the Safety, Risk Management and Regulatory Standards and if applicable infection prevention.
• Maintains a neat and organized work environment; orders, stocks and replenishes supplies and equipment as necessary; identifies and reports problems with supplies or equipment; enters equipment repair requests in system, tags equipment and removes from service.
• Participates in quality assurance/improvement initiatives and activities; participates in growth opportunities.
• As a travel employee; understands the market, division as well as local culture and relationships.
• Adapts to and collaborates with all internal and external patients/clients within and across systems in a timely manner.
• Performs related duties as assigned