Summary

This position requires a highly skilled Polysomnographic Technologist that will be working under the general supervision of the Section Chief of the Sleep Clinic and the Chief of Medicine. This may involve polysomnography - diagnostic and therapeutic services or patient care and education.

Qualifications

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
• 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.) 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-6 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)
• (a) Experience: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-5) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• GS-5 Experience includes: 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
• (b) GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• (c) Assignment: Polysomnography (PSG) Technicians at this level perform a full range of standard - routine examinations including overnight sleep studies - MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) - MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test) - and PAP (Positive Airway Pressure Titration)
• GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)
• (a) Experience: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-6) 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
• (b) GS-7 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• (c) Assignment: At this level the Polysomnography Technician performs a full range of standard - but complex - polysomnography examinations with responsibility for properly and accurately calibrating all instruments prior to the beginning of the PSG tracing and selection of appropriate electrode montages and sensitivity and filter settings to elicit the best possible tracings
• They independently determine the need for CPAP during all night sleep studies for sleep apnea
• They may administer nerve conduction velocity tests
• GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography)
• Full Performance Level (FPL)
• (a) Experience: At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7) 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
• (b) GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• (c) Assignment: This represents the full performance level
• At this level Polysomnographic Technicians are able to interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare
• They are able to conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events - sleep stages - and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep
• They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations - make changes in established procedures - or recommend alternative courses of action
• They are able to mentor lower graded technicians
• Preferred Experience: Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) or the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) credential with 1-3 years experience
• 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)
• 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-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-08
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of the position (i.e
• standing - bending - stooping - sitting - pulling - pushing - etc.) Requires standing - bending stooping - sitting - pulling and pushing patients must be able to perform gross and fine coordinated hand movements.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to
• Collects - analyze - and integrate patient information to identify and meet the patient's specific needs (physical/mental limitations - current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure - pertinent medical/social history)
• Explains procedures and positions the patient to ensure optimal recording of EEG related to sleep staging
• Scans and examines environment of recording to detect and eliminate possible sources of artifacts - recognizes artifacts as they occur in real time
• works rapidly to diagnose and eliminate artifacts to preserve the integrity of recording
• Recognizes artifacts - patient movements and diagnostic findings and makes changes in recording techniques and parameters to optimize display of the phenomenon in question
• Recognizes sleep apnea - sleep movements - nocturnal seizures - and parasomnias such as nocturnal myoclonus and REM behavior disorder - sleep stage and event scores sleep studies in accordance with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Standards
• Performs procedures to include polysomnograms - CPAP titrations - MSLTs - MWTs - Nap Studies and CPAP desensitization
• Informs interpreting physicians when studies are ready for review - and archives studies after physician completes review and interpretation
• Performs operator maintenance on all equipment utilized in the performance of sleep studies as required
• Performs and oversees the calibration of equipment - study quality - technical performance - CPAP titrations - and adherence to policies and procedures of the Sleep Clinic
• Applies good understanding of Infection Control procedures to avoid infection of patients and self
• Conducts a program of treatment diagnostic evaluation - management - and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary and respiratory system
• Performs other tasks/duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full time 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Recruitment Incentive (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 #: 25212-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.