Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

The polysomnographic technician is a VA full-time position located in the Alaska VA/DOD Joint Venture (JV) Sleep Lab on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and includes duties at the Anchorage VA clinic. The incumbent will perform a wide variety of polysomnographic studies in the sleep lab; Routine Polysomnogram, PAP titration studies including CPAP, Bi-level, ASV technologies.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:
Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of polysomnography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level.
1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Polysomnography.
2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

Certification. Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying (45 lbs. and over), moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.), light lifting and carrying ( under 15 lbs.), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, walking ,standing, crawling, kneeling, climbing, use of legs and arms, both legs, both eyes, and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Responsibilities:

Medical Instrument Technician functions:

• Patient instruction and education at the JV sleep lab, the VA clinic, and via tele-link to CBOCs patient setup, calibration, and acquisition performance verification.
• Troubleshoot and repair as necessary EEG, EKG, EOG, EMG and respiratory monitoring equipment.
• Provide setup, instruction and troubleshooting of home studies.
• Titrates; CPAP, BiPAP, & Auto-Servo ventilation devices to patient needs.
• Provides accurate, legible and complete documentation of patient care delivered and response to therapy.
• Recognition of the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk.
• Identify and treat sleep related breathing disorders.
• Staging of the sleep studies.
• Collect, analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs, and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
• Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.
• Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary.
• Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
• Patient instruction and education at the JV sleep lab, the VA clinic, and via tele-link to CBOCs patient setup, calibration, and acquisition performance verification.
• Collect, analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs, and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols
• Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.
• Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary.
• Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
• Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.

Polysomnographic Procedures:

• Follow procedural protocols [such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration etc.] to ensure collection of appropriate data.
• Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments if necessary. Performs pre and post-test calibrations.
• Perform Polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments, if necessary.
• Document routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
• Perform work using a variety of polysomnography equipment such as:
  • Polygraphs,
  • Oximeters,
  • Oxygen Regulators,
  • Electrocardiographs,
  • BiPAP Units,
  • CPAP Units,
  • Auto PAP,
  • Adaptive Servo Ventilation,
  • Various PAP interface,
  • Emergency medical equipment (AED),
  • Home Study testing units.
• Adapts the equipment to the veteran based on information gained through trained observation and laboratory procedures.

Polysomnographic Record Scoring:

• Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.
• Score clinical events according to center specific protocols.
• Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM, Monday - Friday
Recruitment (Sign-On) Incentive: Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $74,126