Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) for the Specialty Care Service Line. EDUCATION: Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ . RESPONSIBILITIES: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The primary and essential functions of the position include but are not limited to:

1) Diagnostic testing: Unattended sleep studies

Distribute, retrieve, download portable monitors

Score portable monitor recordings

Develop and implement policies and procedures for maintaining portable equipment and supplies

Clean and maintain equipment between tests

Ensure sensor integrity

Maintain adequate supplies of disposable items and sensors

Assist in performance of QA program of out-of-laboratory testing

Number of studies

Number of failed studies

Reasons for failure

Maintenance and usage records of individual units

Appointment wait time

Track location of the recording units and follow policies and procedures when patients fail to return a unit in a timely manner

2) Diagnostic testing: Attended sleep studies and Titrations studies

Patient instruction and education

Patient assessment related to sleep disorders

Patient setup, calibration, and acquisition performance verification

Monitoring of multiple physiological data throughout the test

Troubleshooting of polysomnographic recording equipment

Perform pre and post-test calibrations

Identify and treat sleep related breathing disorders

Recognize the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk

Remove and sterilize electrodes and sensors at completion of study

The staging of the sleep studies

Document all data in CPRS including for scoring

The Scoring of Sleep Studies

3) Participate in new technology/equipment development/evaluation

Maintain laboratory equipment according to schedules. Identify name, location and function of emergency supplies. Maintain emergency supplies inventory

4) Educate patients and medical staff

Perform patient education regarding CPAP treatment and sleep hygiene

Distribute brochures and other relevant educational materials to patients about commonly encountered problems (sleep apnea, obesity, driving safety, sleep hygiene, psychophysiological insomnia, narcolepsy and others)

Reinforce educational information and answer patient questions, or refer to care provider as needed

Assist in training and education of medical staff

5) Provide technical support during outpatient clinic sessions

Serve as liaison between patient and healthcare provider

Perform mask fittings and adjust PAP settings as ordered by provider

Order PAP machines and supplies through Prosthetics Department

Troubleshoot PAP-related issues as needed, particularly those regarding the interface

Alert care provider to non-adherence patterns

Order CPAP supplies for patients

Secondary functions of the position include but are not limited to:

Assists in the training of technologist with the performance of various types of sleep studies, scoring and charting of information

Assists in developing, writing and reviewing departmental policies and procedures

Engages in continuing education effort by reading journal articles and texts about sleep medicine topics, attending in-services, and participating actively in monthly interscorer quality assurance and staff meetings

Furthers departmental continuing education effort through training or other educational presentations

Gathers and analyzes data for internal audits and other departmental projects as assigned.

Maintains cleanliness of work area and equipment

May be required to perform re-scores and reviews of novice scorers

Performs other duties in area of responsibility that may be assigned

Assist in covering duties of other Sleep Center personnel when they are absent from work

Work Schedule : Full-time, night shift

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not 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.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.

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.

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.

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 :

GS-9 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 and is defined as: Advanced working knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders; Summarizing and reporting polysomnographic data in narrative form; Working knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and taking appropriate action; Providing briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.

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. KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment.

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 manage and supervise employees.

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

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.

Preferred Experience: Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPTs) is highly desirable. Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are also desirable.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9.

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. SALARY: QuantitativeValue EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Other

Salary : $417