This position is located at Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg West Virginia. The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) operates electroencephalographs and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep. The MIT (Polysomnography) interacts fully with patients and physicians to diagnose sleep disorders, including those that are uncommon or rare. This position requires full sleep studies, including overnight studies.
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. 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. 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" 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) Experience. At least 1 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. 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. 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: RPSGT certification, Polysomnograph knowledge, device knowledge, medical terminology, medical records organization, procedure protocol, anatomy and electrode placement, CPAP knowledge, Independent Titration, Bi-level Titration, sleep recognition, sleep disorders, data summarization and event characteristics. 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-8. Physical Requirements: The work is physically demanding. The incumbent is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close, distant, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The incumbent may occasionally help sick patients in/out of bed.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Scope of Assigned Duties: Services are rendered in collaboration with the ordering provider, either by specific orders, policy, or established protocol. These functions and responsibilities are supported by education and administrative oversight and may periodically change. The primary services include but are not limited to. Standard Examinations: Perform a full range of standard, routine examinations, including overnight sleep studies, MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test), MWT (Maintenance of Weakness Test), and PAP (Positive Airway Pressure Titration). Complex Examinations: Perform more complex polysomnography examinations. Calibration: Properly and accurately calibrate all instruments prior to beginning a PSG tracing. Electrode Selection: Select appropriate electrode montages and sensitivity. Filter Settings: Adjust filter settings to elicit the best possible tracings. CPAP Determination: Independently determine the need for CPAP during all-night sleep studies for sleep apnea. Nerve Conduction: Ability to administer nerve conduction velocity tests. Patient Interaction: Interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders, including those that are uncommon or rare. Event Evaluation: Evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions resulting from events occurring during sleep. Problem Anticipation: Anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations. Procedure Changes: Make changes in established procedures as necessary Recommendations: Recommend alternative courses of action as needed. Mentorship: Mentor lower-graded technicians. Information Sharing: Share information with the program team and provide written reports to the RRT PAP Clinic Therapist(s), Supervisor of Respiratory Care, or Medical Director for Sleep Medicine as indicated. Mission Alignment: Stay current with the hospital's mission, particularly regarding Respiratory Care Services and the Sleep/PAP program. Additional Services: Provide additional services and perform other duties as needed within the LAJVAMC, Sleep/PAP clinic, and Respiratory Care Services. Reporting Structure: This position reports directly to the Supervisor of the Respiratory Therapy Department. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 6 to 12 hour shifts and 1 8 hour per pay period. 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: Maybe eligible for Ad-hoc, per management discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized