Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

Incentive Authorized

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

Qualifications:

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW

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

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.
• 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 certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".
  • Titles and Certifications/Registrations: 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).

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, 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 and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

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.
4. *Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.

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

Responsibilities:

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Sleep Lab position is night-time and may be required to flex duty hours to coincide with clinic needs. Work will be done primarily at the Joint Venture hospital, and at the VA clinic. Responsible to work with less experienced staff members in order to assist them in becoming proficient in polysomnogram scoring.

Functions

• Night-time Operations
  • Night resource for questions on scoring, assisting to troubleshoot equipment issues, and perform a wide variety of polysomnographic studies.
• Day-time Operations
  • Work in conjunction with the Alaska Veterans Affairs Healthcare Services and the VA/DoD Joint Venture Clinics and Hospital
• Guidelines/Directive
  • Follow hospital, federal and state regulations and recommendations
• Receives/Interprets Requests
  • Receives requests and/or instructions for procedures. Interprets requests or instructions from physician or medical officers
• Secures Patients Confidence/Cooperation
  • Secures the confidence and cooperation of patients during procedures
• MIT Functions
  • Include, but not limited to:
    • Patient instruction and education at the sleep lab, clinic, and via tele-link to CBOCs patient setup, calibration, and acquisition performance verification
    • Provide setup, instruction and troubleshooting of home studies
    • Mask fitting & machine trouble-shooting
    • Titrates; CPAP, BiPAP, & Auto-Servo ventilation devices to patient needs
    • Conduct all phases of home sleep studies
    • Monitoring of multiple physiological data
    • Identify and treat sleep related breathing disorders
    • Recognize the need for medical intervention
    • Staging of the sleep studies
    • Collect, analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs
    • Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures
    • Testing Preparation Procedures
    • Prepare and calibrate equipment required
  • Polysomnographic Procedures
    • Follow procedural protocols
    • Follow "lights out" procedures to establish and document baseline values
    • Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations
    • Perform Polysomnographic data acquisition
    • Document routine observations
    • Implement appropriate interventions
    • Follow "lights on" procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process
    • Oversees and performs difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions
    • Adapts the equipment to the veteran based on information gained through trained observation and laboratory procedures
    • Responsible for special projects in clinical and educational areas
• Polysomnographic Record Scoring
  • Score sleep/wake stages
  • Score clinical events
  • Generate accurate reports
• Service Management and Professional Issues
  • Perform routine and complex equipment care and maintenance
  • Develop & coordinate sleep lab equipment competencies for staff training
  • Evaluate sleep study related equipment and inventory
  • Maintain current BLS/CPR certification
  • Participate in a minimum of 10 sleep related continuing education hours each year
  • Comply with the BRPT Standards of Conduct
  • Coordinate with Sleep Lab Supervisor in direction of Sleep Lab employees workload distribution, education, & training at JBER sleep lab

Work Schedule: 3x-12-hour shifts; 2x-10-hour shifts and 2x-12-hour shifts
Scheduled Tour of Duty:
Week 1 consists of three(3) 12-hour shifts.
Week 2 consists of two (2) 12-hour shifts and two (2) 10-hour shifts.
Scheduled workdays are Sunday through Tuesday in Week 1 and Sunday through Wednesday in Week 2.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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)
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

Salary : $417