The Northport VA Medical Center is hiring for 2, full-time, permanent Medical Instrument Technicians (Polysomnography). Recruitment Incentive Eligible for highly qualified Medical Instrument Technicians!!!
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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-6 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities(KSAs): 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. GS-7 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities(KSAs): 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. GS-8 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities(KSAs): 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 Preferred Experience: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. Ability to educate, disseminate and troubleshoot CPAP equipment and compliance downloads. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable materials.
A Sleep Technologist must have the ability to organize and manage time effectively, exercise independent judgment, assume responsibility for their own work/actions, and sometimes work under stressful conditions, remain focused, maintain the ability to prioritize and transition between tasks quickly. They must possess ethical judgment, integrity, honesty, dependability and accountability. The major functions of a RPSGT include, but are not limited, to the following and require that the employee, with or without reasonable accommodations, be able to: Patient instruction and education: Patient setup, calibration and acquisition performance verification Monitoring of multiple physiological data throughout the test Troubleshooting of polysomnographic recording equipment 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 Gather and Analyze Patient Information: Conduct and adhere to all Polysomnographic Procedures Maintains an expertise in the applications and devices used in portable unattended home sleep apnea monitoring. Including technical aspects, care, and cleaning Conducts a sleep clinic were patients are instructed on the "hook up" procedures used with portable monitoring devices and auto-titrating CPAP units to be issued for home use Conducts portable monitoring and autotitrating CPAP procedures in hospitalized patients suspected of having sleep apnea Educates other personnel, including respiratory therapists or physicians, in the use of portable monitoring when requested or required Maintains quality assurance in accordance with American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines and standards regarding Portable monitoring devices and autotitrating CPAP use Contributes to written administrative protocols regarding the home sleep study pathway when required Inventories, tracks and recovers portable sleep apnea monitoring equipment and auto-titrating CPAP units issued for home use or in- hospital use Trouble shoots patient questions regarding home sleep studies Manages home sleep study data in conjunction with the chief sleep technologist and the director of sleep medicine Conducts CPAP acclimatization procedures, and mask fittings/selections Maintains a work safe environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc. Consults with the lead Technologist in unusual situations for which there are no clear precedents. Treat veterans with physical disabilities, injuries, or disease by use of a wide range of techniques and procedures. Perform work using a variety of polysomnography equipment Emergency medical equipment (AED). Adapts the equipment to the veteran based on information gained through trained observation and laboratory procedures. They must be reliable, able to work independently and be self-motivated. Responsible for special projects in clinical and educational areas for patients and staff. Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines and clinical events according to center specific protocols. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Day Tour & Night Tour Rotating Schedule with weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.