Current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-11876818-23-SA. This position is located at the Sleep Center within the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in Little Rock, AR. The incumbent has knowledge of the pathophysiology and human anatomy as it relates to sleep disorders, understands the rationale of sleep recordings in the diagnosis of sleep disorders and the strategies underpinning sleep disorder treatments. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or Experience Combination: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. Certification: No certification or registration is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. Grade Determinations: MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TRAINEE, GS-0649-04 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 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:: - 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. MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TRAINEE, GS-0649-05 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 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: - 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. MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN (Polysomnography), GS-0649-06 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: - 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 polysmnographic 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. MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN (Polysomnography), GS-0649-07 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: - 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. MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN (Polysomnography), GS-0649-08 - Please see Education section below for experience and KSAs required for the GS-8 level. Preferred Experience: - Ability and knowledge to perform Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT), Actigraphy, SpO2, Continuous positive airway pressure titration and set ups, and management (CPAP, APAP, CPAP, Bi-level, Bi-level Spontaneous-Timed(ST), Automatic Servo Ventilation (ASV, Auto SV), Average volume-assured pressure support (AVAP/IVAPs), - Review quality of Sleep Study Recordings - BLS References: VA Handbook 5005/54, Part II Appendix G27, Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: The functional requirements for this position include, but are not limited to: heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, and hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["The duties of the MEDICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN, Polysomnography include, but are not limited to: Capable of placing monitors and other equipment in-person to record sleep and other related data. Has ability to work independently with HSAT and under supervision while recording PSG. Has skill and responsibility to review the patient's history and orders in the electronic medical record (CPRS) prior to the sleep study. Has knowledge to explain procedures to patients, to prepare patients physically for the application of monitors and to calibrate and record with simple sleep recording equipment. Uses problem-solving skills to optimize the evaluation and adjust the exam to ensure that it is comprehensive and accurate. Accurately scores each recording as applies including sleep staging and respiratory events according to the latest AASM guidelines and generates numeric reports. Has responsibility for monitoring the safety of the patients in the Sleep Lab for life threatening cardiac and/or pulmonary emergencies. Able to recognize these emergencies, to provide competent care and call the nurse-on-duty, rapid response team or Code Blue in the event of a medical emergency. Attentive to patients' mood symptom reports in-person, on the phone and via telehealth and is knowledgeable regarding how to activate the Veterans Crisis Line and other options at CAVHS for those with potentially suicidal or homicidal ideations. Has the knowledge and ability to use appropriate set up and procedure progress note titles, locations and encounter codes for HSATs to describe the patient education, placement of recording monitors, events and outcomes of the studies in CPRS and other software. Has knowledge of the various sleep disorders cited in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Has knowledge of the scoring criteria for sleep disorders from the AASM and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services national and local carrier determination guidelines. Ability to review the data for diagnostic qualification and to carry out subsequent orders for treatments under supervision. Work Schedule for one position: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Work Schedule for one position: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 5:00pm-7:00am, 6:00pm-6:00am Vacancies: 2 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Medical Instrument Technician - Polysomnography/PD000000 and PD000001 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
