REPORTS TO POSITION: Heart and Lung Specialists, Supervisor or Manager
DEPARTMENT: Cardiology
DATE LAST REVIEWED: February 2025
OUR VISION: Creating Americas healthiest community, together
OUR MISSION: In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value
OUR VALUES: Accountability, Caring and Teamwork
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:SCHS encompasses practices in three Central Oregon counties and numerous lines of clinical service including Primary Care, Urgent Care, Medical Specialties, Womens Health, Post-Acute Care, Hospital Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Behavioral Health, Cardiovascular Services and Cancer Services. We encourage collaboration between clinical and non-clinical staff to assure we are providing our community with comprehensive and compassionate health care.
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Senior Cardiac Device Technician at St. Charles Health System is primarily responsible for performing device interrogations, interpretations and programming of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, loop recorders, and home monitor equipment. This position processes patient data with clinical judgment using a variety of information systems while facilitating clear patient education regarding their cardiac care, medications, disease process/prevention, risk factors, and cardiac procedures. The position is responsible for recognizing and responding appropriately to potential emergency situations that arise, and making clinical decisions in regard to heart rhythms, safety, contraindications to testing, and test termination under physician protocol. Other functions may include escorting rooming patients, and providing care as directed by a provider. Potential variability in work schedule between Cardiology locations.
This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
Creates a comprehensive database for all device patents to maintain proper follow up schedule, ensure consistent monitoring, and maximize patient safety.
Manages requests from hospice for deactivation of ICD devise patients when MD and family approval is requested.
Facilitates pre-procedural appointments for cardiac device generator replacements, new implants, and laser extraction.
Incorporates patient and family education, and the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) strategies reflective of Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) best practices.
Implements essential patient teaching elements and serves as a resource for patient concerns and questions intra-operatively, upon hospital discharge, device home monitoring and clinic follow up care throughout the device/patient lifetime.
Provides phone advice to patient calls with clinically related questions using critical thinking and physician protocols to provide the best patient outcomes.
Provides evaluation and device management to patients under the supervision of a provider.
Assesses wounds post procedure (new device implants, generator replacements, laser extraction) to ensure that the incision is healing appropriately.
Maintains follow-up scheduling through the electronic medical record to ensure patient safety per clinic protocol.
Ensures correct billing, bill dropping, and coding of device checks.
Participates in the recruitment, training and development of clinic staff in regard to cardiac devices.
Provides device related education class/in-service to staff and providers.
Manages incoming requests for MRI scans. This includes assessing eligibility for MRI safety, researching patient hardware per manufacture guidelines, determining proper mode for MRI mode and coordinating with cardiologist for approval and signature for MRI form.
Participates in performance and workflow management of clinical staff.
Acts as a resource and mentor for Cardiac Device Technicians. Participates and leads special projects as assigned by Core Leader such as facilitating team meetings.
Provides specific education related to heart failure, atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, device.
Reinforces physician's care plan with patients and family as needed.
Applies BLS measures in case of emergency and ACLS algorithms in such cases if Provider is providing direct supervision.
Performs regular inspection of all equipment, in accordance with departmental and hospital policies for operation and safety. Ensures proper function and maintenance before beginning procedures. Follows up with appropriate personnel for equipment needs and repairs when appropriate.
Works effectively and collaboratively utilizing good interpersonal skills in the care team. Assures smooth patient hand-offs between care teams when appropriate.
Orients and trains new staff and/or students.
Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.
Supports the Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.
Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.
Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organizations corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.
Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.
May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.
EDUCATION:
Required: Bachelor's Degree Exercise or Health Science, or related industry field. Equivalent education/experience such as a High School Diploma/GED plus five (5) years' experience in cardiac telemetry, electrocardiogram, electrophysiology tech, monitor tech, device industry, or device monitoring may be considered.
Preferred: Master's Degree in related field.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:
Required: National Certification from Cardiovascular Credentialing International OR National Certified Cardiac Device Specialist, National Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist certification, National Certified Electrophysiology Specialist certification - from the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners OR National Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification from the American College of Sports Medicine. Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider Certification.
Preferred: N/A
EXPERIENCE:
Required: Four (4) years cardiac device experience.
Preferred: N/A
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.
ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:
Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel and Access), database management, and document preparation.
Must have excellent communication skills and ability to interact with a diverse population and professionally represent St. Charles Health System.
Ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels within St. Charles Health System and external customers/clients/potential employees.
Strong team working and collaborative skills.
Ability to multi-task and work independently.
Attention to detail.
Excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication and customer service skills, particularly in dealing with stressful personal interactions.
Strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, keyboard operation, use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
Frequently (50%): Sitting, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-25 pounds.