Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, 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. 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).

02Grade Determinations

To qualify for the GS-09 level, your resume must demonstrate the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography), GS-09 (a) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-08), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) at that level.

GS-08 KSAs: 1) Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders. 2) Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form. 3) Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action. 4) Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition, you must demonstrate ALL of the following KSAs in your resume: 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.

1. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. (c) 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.

03Preferred Experience

RPSGT credentialing, 3 years of sleep medicine experience in laboratory setting, and EEG experience. 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-09.

04Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) duties include but are not limited to: Prepare patients and calibrate sleep equipment and physiological calibrations on patients. 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. Monitor patient safety parameters and physiological data in the sleep lab for all emergencies.

Recognize emergent situations, provide competent care, CPR, and notifying the Rapid Response / Code Blue teams in these events. Monitor and interpret all montage signals including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG, respiratory channels, snore channel, and SPO2 channel. Utilize the 10-20 neurological measuring system to ensure accurate EEG electrode placement and recording procedures. Initiate and titrate CPAP, BiPAP, and ASV therapy for patients with complex sleep-disordered breathing.

• Perform split-night sleep studies requiring rapid assessment and adjustment of PAP therapy.
• Monitor and troubleshoot of advanced PAP modalities including adaptive servo-ventilation and volume-assured pressure support systems.
• Identify and treat sleep related breathing disorders.

Responsible for proper articulation of the study details, times, respiratory rates, heart rates, cardiac arrythmias, supplemental oxygen therapy, Myoclonus, sleep breathing disorders, neurologic events, parasomnias, SPO2 readings, and Rem behavior disorders. Oversee and perform difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions, to include providing training and supervision to Medical Instrument Technicians (Polysomnography) that are working in a developmental capacity.

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. Stage score the patients sleep study and event score study, based off the AASM scoring parameters and standards. Use of CPAP, BIPAP (S, ST, with and w/o backup rate), AVAPS, as well as all modes of titration therapy.

Proper titration methods time between increase, spread between Ipap and Epap, timed inspiration, breathing rate, ramp, ect. Interpret Sleep study reports. Interpret CPAP download reports. Recognize and score complex sleep disorders including parasomnias, narcolepsy, REM behavior disorder, periodic limb movement disorder, and central sleep apnea. Interpret support through detailed technical reporting and physician communication regarding abnormal or urgent findings.

Provide briefings and sleep study results to fellow Medical Instrument Techs (Polysomnography), Sleep Supervisor, Cardiopulmonary Chief, and requesting Physicians. Initiate performance improvement projects for the Sleep Lab to streamline processes and make the lab more efficient. Maintain current knowledge on JCAHO and polysomnography regulations to ensure compliance with sleep study protocols and patient care requirements.

Assist with writing and developing policies, procedures, and protocols for the Sleep Lab in response to new trends in sleep medicine. Trains developmental Medical Instrument Technicians (Polysomnography) on operational procedures for the sleep lab. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not 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 #: 564-01713-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized