Career Center

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) works independently and may ask for general supervision from the Sleep Lab Supervisor and/or clinical director (MD) or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of disorders. This may involve polysomnography - diagnostic and therapeutic services or patent care and education.

Qualifications

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
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• 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
• For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable
• Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency: MITs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) Polysomnography Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep
• Registration is offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the criteria discussed in the applicable headings - or that defined in the appendices - must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Basic Developmental Levels: Medical Instrument Technician (Trainee) GS-4: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant - practical nursing - or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• -OR- Education: Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-5: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
• -OR- Education: Successful completion of [4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography): GS-6: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of standard - computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG - EOG - EKG - EMG and respiratory parameters
• Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters - respiratory effort devices - nasal pressure devices - thermistors - thermocouples - continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines - and laboratory computers including the ability to calibrate and operate the equipment and recognize and eliminate recording artifacts
• Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records - sleep study orders - consent forms - medical charts - etc
• Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies - MSLT - MWT - PAP - etc.)
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies
• GS-7: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge - skills - and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices
• Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals
• Knowledge of indications - complications - and contraindications of CPAP therapy
• Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations
• Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing and identify all stages of sleep
• This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings
• GS-8: Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided a knowledge of the more complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
• Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form
• Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g. - respiratory - cardiac - sleep stage - seizures - etc.) and ability to take appropriate action
• Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians
• 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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-4 up to GS-8. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination
• Preferred Experience: One year of experience and graduate of EEG/Sleep program.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Administrative: The Polysomnographic Technologist must be up to date on all policies and procedures
• Clinical: 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
• Complete and verify documentation
• Explain pre testing - testing - and post-testing procedures to the patient
• Informs patients on usage of all PAP equipment during titration studies
• Testing Preparation Procedures: 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 appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments if necessary Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting
• Polysomnographic Procedures: Follow procedural protocols to ensure collection of appropriate data
• Follow \"lights out' procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position
• ox hemoglobin saturation - respiratory and heart rates - etc.)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
• Implement appropriate interventions (Including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure - oxygen administration - etc.) Inspire fine tuning
• Documents baseline - makes changes in Inspire voltages to ensure a quality signal free of artifact
• Follow \"lights on' procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process
• Polysomnographic Record Scoring: Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines
• Score clinical events(such as respiratory events
• cardiac events - limb movements
• arousals etc. -) according to center specific protocols
• Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data
• Upon request for an emergency procedure with an immediate report - the results will be shown to the interpreting physician as soon as the test is completed and often must convey the report to the requesting physician
• Although not responsible for interpretation of the results - the incumbent must know through experience how to recognize abnormalities and promptly bring them to the attention of the supervisor
• The incumbent shall review the patient's chart and record pertinent symptoms - medical history - medications and other lab results
• PAP Monitoring: As a diagnostic tool - applies CPAP - BPAP - ASV and AVAP when performing polysomnogram studies per physician's diagnosis and request while continuously monitoring equipment in use
• Makes independent judgment for changes in the setting of air pressure needed in each individual case
• As a diagnostic tool - introduces supplemental oxygen - with or without positive pressure therapy - and titrate oxygen dose as necessary upon physician's request
• Work Schedule: 7:00pm - 7:00am - Sunday - Monday - Tuesday and alternating Saturday Compressed: Yes - this position is a compressed tour 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized