Summary

This Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) (Polysomnography) position is in Specialty Care services at the VA Maine Healthcare System - located at the Togus - Maine location.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II Chapter 2 - Section D - Paragraph 5a
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-04:MIT(Trainee) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-03) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant - practical nursing - or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• OR - Education
• Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the Education/Experience requirement - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-04 Grade Level: Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-05:MIT(Trainee) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-04) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of 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 a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-05 Grade Level: Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• GS-06:MIT (Polysomnography) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-05) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-06 Grade Level: Knowledge of standard - computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG - EOG - EKG - EMG and respiratory parameters
• 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
• Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records - sleep study orders - consent forms - medical charts - etc
• Knowledge of polysomnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies - MSLT - MWT - PAP - etc.)
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies
• GS-07:MIT (Polysomnography) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-07 Grade Level: Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices
• Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals
• Knowledge of indications - complications - and contraindications of CPAP therapy
• Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations
• 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-08:MIT (Polysomnography)Full Performance Level Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07) 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
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-08 Grade Level: 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) certification desired
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification desired.
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/54 PART II APPENDIX G27 - MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-649
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion
• It may involve walking - frequent bending - reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment
• lifting and positioning patients
• and carrying - pushing - or pulling moderately heavy objects
• Work Environment: The technician performs work in a setting involving regular and recurring exposure to infectious and contagious diseases - odors and other risks which require special health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing such as gloves - masks - or - lead aprons
• There is adequate light - heat - and ventilation in the work area.

Duties

• The Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) operates and monitors electroencephalograph equipment and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep
• The Incumbent has multiple clinical and technical responsibilities
• Duties include but are not limited to: Preparing patients for nocturnal polysomnographic testing
• Providing instruction to the patient
• Performing the sleep study which includes adjusting oxygen dose and CPAP or BiPAP levels as necessary to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation during sleep
• Monitoring patients for adverse reactions - independently taking corrective action based on established policy and past experience and notifying the physician as required
• Collecting the data obtained from the sleep study
• Staging sleep architecture and scoring sleep abnormalities
• Providing physicians with timely reports
• Keeping current with latest developments and ensuring standards are met in the polysomnography lab
• Overseeing referrals for sleep studies to the community (triaging - training staff - site selection - keeping statistics - etc.) - Maintaining Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification
• Ensuring that all machines and equipment are in compliance with all safety codes
• the polysomnographer will report any problems immediately
• Acquire - correlate and act upon patient surveys for the purpose of performance improvement
• Writing policies - procedures and protocols that pertain to Polysomnography
• Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care using hospital policies and procedures - including appropriate cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical equipment in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Compressed - Variable schedule including weekdays - nights and weekends includes six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per 80 hour pay period
• Schedule may temporarily alternate Monday-Friday 07:30am - 4:00pm during periods of training or based on the needs of the service
• Compressed/Flexible: May Be Authorized
• 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) Functional Statement #: F01818 - F08182 - F08183 - F03771 - F03805
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.