Career Center

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician - under the supervision of the Supervisory Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) under the Director - Birmingham Sleep Disorders Center - displays proficiency and performs at a level of excellence in all Sleep diagnostic and treatment procedures and other related procedures in accordance with the guidelines and protocols established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine - BVAMC Sleep Disorders Center and procedures of the Birmingham VA Hospital.

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
• 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
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted - or demoted within the occupation
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or demoted within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• .Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: 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 KSAs: 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
• Preferred Experience: Work experience - certification - or other characteristics you would want your ideal candidate to possess
• A minimum of 1 year experience in polysomnography
• 3 years highly desirable
• RPSGT (Registration by Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists) highly desirable
• Home sleep study experience is highly desirable Reliable - self-motivated - courteous - team player - able to work independently and with others in a professional manner
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: Scans patient's health records of common and complicated medical conditions pertinent to the performance of sleep testing procedures
• He/she explains the procedure to patients to insure patient comfort for optimal recording of sleep studies
• Anticipates and corrects patient discomfort - mechanical and electrical interface (artifacts)
• Scans/examines environment of recording to detect and eliminate possible sources of artifacts in order to preserve integrity of recording
• Recognizes patient movements and diagnostic findings and makes changes in recording techniques and parameters to optimize display of the phenomenon in question
• Performs patient physical assessments related to sleep disorders - including mask fittings and adjustments - etc
• Conducts patient polysomnography setups - calibration and acquisition performance verification
• performs pre and post-test calibrations
• Able to perform monitoring of multiple physiological data throughout the specific tests conducted
• Troubleshoots polysomnographic recording equipment
• Identifies and treats appropriately sleep related breathing disorders
• Integrates polysomnographic data into patient care by coordinating care with other functional areas of the Sleep Center - such as CPAP Clinic and Sleep Clinics
• Provides patient instructions and education
• Recognizes the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk
• Removes - and sterilizes electrodes and sensors at completion of study - as needed
• orders necessary supplies and equipment's for the Sleep Lab - etc
• Able to perform timely sleep staging of the sleep studies according to the latest professional standards and specific VA Sleep Lab protocols - generates reports for physician interpretations - assists physicians and trainees in insuring quality standards of the sleep reports are maintained
• Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the testing system and accepted procedures
• Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e. - history - medications - card downloads - etc) to verify results
• Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results
• Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly
• Makes appropriate phone calls and uses appropriate communication means (e.g. - faxes) to obtain data from non-VA sources - documents the interaction and makes the documentation available to the providers and medical records department
• Extensive knowledge of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy and mask fitting
• Able to perform positive airway pressure desensitization assessments - set/download/troubleshoot and adjust positive airway pressure devices - prepare and complete documentation for reports Responsible for educating patients on sleep disorders - sleep disorders evaluation (including polysomnographic studies) - and sleep disorders treatments (including positive airway pressure devices technical initiation/evaluation/management)
• Works directly with Prosthetics to procure necessary PAP equipment and parts
• Responsible for the content - implementation - education and revision of all educational material available for diagnosing and treating veterans with sleep disorders
• Responsible for in-person and video telehealth sleep and CPAP education and follow up
• Responsible for updating and maintaining accurate and current data in the CPAP software databases (e.g. - Care Orchestrator - Air View.) Responsible for interpreting doctor's orders prior to setting up PAP equipment and determining if equipment will allow the specified pressure ranges ordered
• Must be reliable - able to work independently - be self motivated- anticipate problems likely to occur and is able to prepare for such situations - suggest changes in established procedures - or recommend alternative courses of action Performs other duties as assigned by management
• After initial on the job training and completing competencies x 3-4 months at Birmingham VA Medical Center in Birmingham - AL - this position will transition to Huntsville - AL Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm - Monday to Friday (Subject to change based on Agency needs.) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:521-FS-389 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required