Summary

The San Diego VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Instrument Technician - Electroencephalograph (EEG). The EEG Technician operates the electroencephalograph and other devices such as evoked potential equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain. The incumbent is in charge of the neurophysiology laboratory of the Neurology Service - VA Medical Center.

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
• 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"
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision: 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 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8) - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• This includes experience which provides knowledge of the more complex procedures - the pharmacology related to this occupation - and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment
• The KSAs at the next lower grade level (GS-8) include: 1
• Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for surgeons and other medical staff during testing procedures
• 2
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the ability to understand the relationship of EEG and evoked potential testing in detecting states of disease and health
• 3
• Knowledge of behavior assessment during seizure attacks in order to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges
• 4
• Knowledge of a variety of advanced EEG equipment and peripheral equipment such as equipment for brain mapping - video EEG telemetry systems with seizure detection computers - and spike analysis software
• 5
• Knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals
• 6
• Ability to adapt neurodiagnostic devices - parameters - and procedures to complex - unusual - and often critical situations
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): 1
• Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures
• *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
• Certification
• Registration by the American Board of Registration of EEG - CNIM &EP Technologists (ABRET) or the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists (AEET) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Special Assignments
• Non-supervisory Electroencephalography Technicians may have assignments that because of their nature substantially exceed the full performance level
• The Professional Standards Board will review proposed non-supervisory special assignments for the GS-9 level and make a determination regarding their appropriateness
• These assignments are expected to be relatively few in number and must represent substantial additional responsibility over the full performance level
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of 4 years experience as a Neurodiagnostic Electroencephalograph (EEG) Technician
• Associates degree in a related field or graduate of an accredited electroencephalograph program or equivalent formal training
• Knowledge of Neuroanatomy and Physiology - basic electronics and electrical safety
• Experience with EEG instruments - pattern recognitions - and medical pharmacological conductions that influence EEG
• Certification: Registration by the American Board of Registration of EEG - CNIM & EP Technologist (ABRET) or the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists (AEET) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) 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. Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 lbs. - moderate carrying - 15-44 lbs. - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - standing 4-6 hours
• hearing - aid permitted
• Duties require extensive use of fingers to perform keyboarding and the ability to hear requests by phone and in person
• Version must be adequate to read and prepare documents.

Duties

• As part of the VA's Epilepsy Center of Excellence (ECoE) goal - the San Diego - Medical Center's EEG Technicians in Neurology Service - provide care to all veterans with epilepsy and other seizure disorders through the integration of clinical care - research - and education
• The EEG Technician educates the veterans and other staff members on high quality of epilepsy care - provides health professional education and training - utilizes national VA and other databases in order to inform providers about health care delivery - and conducts state-of-the-art research about epilepsy
• The incumbent's position is that of clinical neurophysiology technologist in charge of the neurophysiology laboratory
• The EEG Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices such as evoked potential equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain
• Major Duties are below but not limited to: Ensures all requested neurophysiology tests are performed promptly and accurately
• Provide routine quality tests and will assist the Physicians in developing new tests or special modifications necessary for a particular patient
• Responsible to obtain all neurophysiology laboratory supplies and to assure they are used in a cost effective manner
• Collecting and evaluating all statistical data for the Neurophysiology Lab for preparation of Quarterly Reporting Requirements and for the filing - storage and retrieval systems for all EEGs and EPs
• Perform the following tests: Electroencephalograms - Sensory Evoked Cerebral Studies - and Recording of Spontaneous and Stimulus-Induced Eye Movements
• Keep all equipment and supplies needed for any of the above tests clean and in good working order
• Will constantly clean and make orderly the equipment and the rooms used for testing to assure safe and accurate tests are performed on patient
• Provide technical interpretation of Neurophysiological data
• As many of these tests (e.g. - EEG and evoked potential studies) may be done at a time when the physician interpreter is not present - it is essential that the technologist have skill in preliminary technical interpretation of the tests
• At minimum - interpretive skills in EEG will be adequate to assure quality routine test records and skill at designing special procedures - (e.g
• special EEG montages) to delineate abnormalities well on the first patient visit to the neurophysiology laboratory
• Results of some of the above outline studies require statistical analysis including means - modes - standard deviations and calculations of trends
• These statistical evaluations will be done by the incumbent
• Collaborates in a team oriented - customer-driven - professional environment
• Operates the electroencephalogram and other devices such as evoked potential equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm 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
• Functional Statement #: 000000
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.