PACEMAKER/ICD TECH

The Pacemaker/ICD Technician plays a vital role in the cardiac care team by assisting in the examination and treatment of patients with abnormal heart rhythms. This role involves the use of cardiac device therapy, including the interrogation and monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators. The Pacemaker/ICD Technician is responsible for ensuring the proper functionality of these devices through device testing and stimulation. This role requires close collaboration with physicians to identify abnormalities in device function, patient compliance issues, and arrhythmias and demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

• Device Management: Perform interrogation of pacemakers and defibrillators. Conduct device testing and stimulation to ensure proper functionality.
• Patient Care: Provide a variety of remote checks, in-office interrogations, and programming of implanted cardiac devices.
• Issue Identification: Identify device and/or lead issues and make programming adjustments as needed. Identify patients who may require device upgrades, lead revisions, or generator changes.
• Data Management: Maintain accurate patient implant data in the MURJ database. Review and return any follow-up reports to the device registry.
• Collaboration: Review abnormal device checks with physicians or Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) and make recommendations on device programming or medication regimens.
• Documentation: complete EHR documentation, schedule remote follow-up, and contact patients, as needed after remote transmission.

Non-essential Duties

• Administrative Support: Perform other duties as required to support the cardiac care team.
• Inventory Management: Assist in managing inventory and ordering supplies as needed for device testing and programming

Preferred Experience

• Minimum of two years of experience programming with pacemakers and ICDs.

Required Licensure/Education

• Basic Life Support (BLS).
• High school diploma or equivalent required

Preferred Education

• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification preferred.
• Some higher education in a related field is preferred.

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to: 

• Chemicals: Refer to MSDS manual 
• Video Display Terminals: Extreme 
• Blood and Body Fluids: Invasive diagnostic testing of patients, frequent contact with intravenous and intra-arterial devices, also high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, urine). Appropriate use of needles, syringes, universal precautions and protective equipment should greatly minimize the risk. 
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient presentation for invasive diagnostic procedure does pose risk; however, proper use of protective wear used in cath lab and universal precautions reduces the risk. 

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): 

• Speech: Needed for presentations/training, telephone communication, facilitating meetings, communication with patients, staff and visitors. 
• Vision: Required to observe patients; reading memos, literature, equipment and dials. 
• Smell: Helpful for electrical/fire safety. 
• Hearing: Needed for telephone communication, meetings, listening to patient concerns. 
• Touch: Needed for operating computer equipment in keyboarding of entry and/or other functions for communication of information necessary for patient care. 

 Activity/Lifting Requirements: 

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to: 

• Sit: 35% 
• Twist: 5%
• Stand: 50% 
• Crawl: 0% 
• Walk: 25% 
• Kneel: 1%  
• Lift: 10% 
• Drive: 0% 
• Squat: 5% 
• Climb: 0% 
• Bend: 10% 
• Reach above shoulders: 20% 

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below: 

• Up to 10 lbs: Continuously 
• Up to 20 lbs: Continuously 
• Up to 35 lbs: Frequently 
• Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally 
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required 
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required 
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required 

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35#. Processor chemical jugs (5#) lifted from floor level up to waist level (approximately 3') to chemical tanks. Linens and IV equipment (5#) carried approximately 15-20' from linen cart or nurses station to cath lab. Lead aprons are worn during all procedures weighing approximately 15-20#. Procedures can last up to 8 hours or more per shift. 

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity: 

• Sit: 30 
• Twist: 2 
• Stand: 90 
• Crawl: 0 
• Walk: 10 
• Kneel: 5 
• Lift: 5 
• Drive: 0 
• Squat: 2 
• Climb: 0 
• Bend: 2 
• Reach above shoulders: 2 

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

• Simple grasp 15#  
• Pushing & pulling 50-200# occasionally 
• Fine Manipulation: Syringes &vials/O2 tanks/suction machines/film processor/x-ray table controls, checking pulses; catheters, sheaths and wires; applying electrodes and lead wires, computer keyboard. 

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: Bed lock and cardiac chair at least 50# of pressure.  

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards: 

Environmental Factors (Time Spent): 

• Inside hours: 8 
• Outside hours : 0 
• Temperature: Normal Range 
• Lighting: Average 
• Noise levels: Average 
• Humidity: Normal Range 
• Atmosphere: Dust, Odors 

Special Hazards: Mechanical, Radiation, Chemical, Electrical , Explosive - X-ray during procedures; mechanical and electrical devices, film processor, IV pumps, defibrillator, monitor, and computer. Cleaning solvents and film processing chemicals. Use of explosive oxygen. 

Protective Clothing Required: Will be working in an area utilizing ionizing radiation made from high voltage electrical current. Processing x-ray film using an automatic film processing system. Lead Aprons/collars, gloves, masks.