Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography - Sleep Disorder Tech)

DutiesSummary

The positions are assigned to The American Lake Division, Polysomnography Sleep Lab of the Puget Sound Veterans Health Administration, Tacoma, WA. The incumbent is a Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) - Sleep Technician under the supervision of the Lead Polysomnographer and reports to the Chief of Sleep Medicine under the Director of Sleep Medicine Services.


Responsibilities

Conduct a variety of polysomnography tests: Nocturnal Polysomnography (PSG) including diagnostic and titration studies, daytime testing including Multiple Sleep Latency and Maintenance of Wakefulness testing, Home Sleep Apnea testing, Actigraphy, and Oximetry testing. Must be able to calibrate, interface, and operate all equipment used in polysomnographic procedures.

The equipment will include 32 channel PSGs, computerized noninvasive monitoring and scoring system for measurements of sleep and respiratory parameters; plethysmography, pulse oximetry, trans cutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring, air and oxygen flow meters, digital video monitoring, electrocardiography, and muscle tone. Some of the duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Explain procedures and ensure patient comfort for optimal recording of PSG.
• Apply and maintain non-invasive ventilatory therapies (CPAP, Bilevel, Bilevel ASV, and Bilevel VAPS).
• Monitor and record significant observations such as sleep stage, heart rate, respiration rate, oxygen saturation level, body position; presence and/or absence of sleep apnea, snoring, nocturnal seizures, bruxism, cardiac arrhythmias, parasomnias.
• Recognize artifacts, patient movements, and diagnostic findings and make changes in recording techniques and parameters to optimize display of the phenomenon in question.
• Ability to recognize which medical complaints may be minor and which may need attention (calling supervisor) and which may require an immediate code blue and initiating of CPR.
• Requires knowledge of basic respiratory physiology and certification in basic life support.
• Organize and prepare completed patient chart, tracing, and other significant data, and present to chief technologist and medical director.
• Report suspect equipment malfunction to the Biomedical engineers and to the computer specialist as appropriate.
Specialized Experience/Requirements:
• The Sleep technician must be trained and Certified by an accredited sleep technician training program. The Sleep technician must have an active sleep technician license.
• The applicant must have an understanding of polysomnogram principles, concepts, techniques and must be able to independently perform complex sleep studies over night without a supervisor present.
• The Sleep technician is skilled in utilizing computer databases and word processing.
• The Sleep technician must have Certification in basic life support.
• The Sleep technician must be able to deal with patient concerns and questions in an appropriate and professional manner.
• The Sleep technician must have prior experience and ability to score sleep studies if needed.

Work Schedule: Varying hours and days to be discussed upon interview
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

8

• Job family (Series)

  0649 Medical Instrument Technician

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• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • This is a Bargaining Unit Position
  QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/12/2021.
  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.
  
  Preferred Experience: The Sleep technician must be trained and Certified by an accredited sleep technician training program. The Sleep technician must have an active sleep technician license.
  
  Grade Determinations:
  GS-6
  (a) 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:
  (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  1. Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters.
  2. 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.
  3. Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc.
  4. Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc.).
  5. Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies.
  (c) Certification. No certification or registration is required at this level. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
  (d) 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
  (a) 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:
  (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  1. Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices.
  2. Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals.
  3. Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy.
  4. Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations.
  5. 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) Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
  (d) 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
  (a) 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:
  (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  1. Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
  2. Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
  3. Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
  4. Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.
  (c) Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.
  (d) 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.
  
  References:
  VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, Appendix I
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-8.
  
  Physical Requirements: The work requires occasional physical exertion when positioning patients and equipment for maximal accuracy and patient safety. The Sleep technician performs completely within the confines of the VA Medical, Puget Sound Health Care System.
  
  Work Environments: The work involves certain stress factors relative to the level of cooperation by the patient and overall performance of the equipment. The work will be performed during both day and night. Constant attention for 10-12 hours is required. All sleep tech will be responsible to pick up work area, put away supplies and all other task as directed by the Chief Technologist, Chief Respiratory Therapy or Chief of Sleep Medicine. Education

  IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

  Additional information

  Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  
  This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  
  It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
  
  This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
  
  VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
  
  Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
  
  If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
  
  Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
  

  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Other

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  

  • VA Application 10-2850c
  • Resume
  
  
  VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search.
  
  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
  
  
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • OF-306
  • VA Application 10-2850c
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript
  
  
  Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Federal employees - Competitive service

  Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees - Excepted service

  Current excepted service federal employees.

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of this agency.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

The first area of consideration will be current permanent facility employees, second consideration will be permanent VA employees, the third will be all other current permanent federal employees, the last area of consideration will be all other US Citizens.