Medical Instrument Technician -Polysomnography

Applicants pending completion of educational/certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can’t 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 US citizens English Language Proficiency Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English Education. There are no specific educational requirements for occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at GS-4 & GS-5 levels. See grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure/certification/registration that are part occupation’s basic requirements. For employees who don’t meet all basic requirements required in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position when they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in occupation that doesn’t require a licensure/certification/ registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted w/in occupation but won’t be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory/managerial positions Such employees in occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including full performance (journey) level, or demoted w/in occupation, but can’t be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory/managerial positions Employees initially grandfathered into occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all qualification standard basic requirements must maintain required credentials, as a condition of employment in occupation Grade Determination Requirements: Criteria discussed in applicable headings must be met when determining candidate’s grade in addition to basic requirements for employment. GS-4 Trainee Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. 6 months of experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing or similar fields. Remaining 6 months must have been in operating diagnostic & therapeutic equipment covered by occupation. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. OR Education. Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school or associate’s degree w/ a major field of study directly related to medical instrument technician occupation In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated KSAs 1) Knowledge of basic medical terminology 2) Ability to learn components, operating characteristics & settings of equipment used 3) Ability to learn typical patient reactions to basic procedures involved & ability to recognize distress signs 4) Ability to learn standard positions for procedure being conducted 5) Ability to communicate orally & in writing GS-5 Trainee Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience in operating equipment related to polysomnography or in related functional areas. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. OR Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to bachelor’s degree w/ courses related to occupation or bachelor’s degree in major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs Demonstrated KSAs 1) Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions 2) Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment 3) Ability to learn the normal/abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize & report obvious abnormalities 4) Ability to operate equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures 5) Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on equipment including ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble & calibrate machine GS-6 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated KSAs 1) Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG & respiratory parameters 2) Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines & laboratory computers including ability to calibrate & operate equipment & recognize & eliminate recording artifacts 3) Knowledge of medical terminology & 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 & international 10-20 electrode placement system to conduct the sleep studies GS-7 Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided individual w/ KSAs to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated KSAs 1) Knowledge of CPAP function & operation to select & fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices 2) Ability to independently titrate & document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals 3) Knowledge of indications, complications & contraindications of CPAP therapy 4) Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations 5) Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing & identify all sleep stages, including ability to score & analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings GS-8 Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided a knowledge of more complex procedures & knowledge of uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated KSAs 1) Advanced knowledge or International Classification of Sleep Disorders & ability to recognize uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders 2) Ability to summarize & report polysomnographic data in narrative form 3) Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) & ability to take appropriate action 4) Ability to provide briefings & orientation to hospital staff including physicians Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnography Technologist certification from Board of Registered Polysomnography Technologists. Sleep lab experience. BLS &/or ALS certification Reference: For more information on qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Vacancy full performance level is a GS-8. Applicants may be selected in grade ranges GS-4 to GS-8 Physical Requirements: Must be able to use your hands to grasp & precisely manipulate objects Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken or written word Must be able to view, read, enter, edit & manipulate information on computer screens Must pass, possess & maintain BLS certification
The Ft. Harrison VA Health Care System located in Montana is currently recruiting for two GS 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 Medical Instrument Technicians-Polysomnography Technicians.