Summary

This position is in the Respiratory Section - Medicine Care Line - Lebanon VA Medical Center - Lebanon - PA. The Polysomnographer is responsible for operating or monitoring diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment and instruments associated with polysomnograhy to adults and geriatric patients at the Lebanon VA Medical Center (VAMC).

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
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities at the GS-8: 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 Grade Determinations: GS-9. In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 level - positions at this grade may be lead - supervisory - or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments
• Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level - which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of polysomnography services
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities at the GS-9: KSAs 1 - 2 - and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level
• KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment
• 1
• Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures - to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects - and to write policies - procedures - and protocols - that pertain to Polysomnography
• *2
• Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• 3
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• *4
• Ability to manage and supervise employees
• *5
• Ability to provide - or provide for - staff development and training
• Preferred Experience: Certification - Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job
• The Incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned - both major and minor not mentioned below
• periodically specific functions may change
• Demonstrates knowledge of standard - computerized polysomnography for recording continuous physiological data including Electroencephalogram - Electrooculogram - Electrocardiogram - Electromyogram - and Respiratory parameters
• Demonstrates knowledge and experience in customer service activities
• Demonstrates skills to include computer literacy - typing - telephone communications - and patient documentation
• Operates and maintains the electroencephalograph and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep
• Operates and maintains the electroencephalograph and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep
• Effectively assures quality customer service in accordance with company written policies and procedures
• Builds credibility for the organization through effective communication and servicing of patient needs through quality patient care
• Responsible for answering telephone - screening and directing calls appropriately
• Handles customer complaints/problems per established policy and procedures
• Knowledge of polysomnography procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies - MSLT - MWT - PAP - etc.) Stays up on information necessary to deliver quality health care
• Responsible for providing timely customer service to all walk-in customers
• Provides coverage for EEG testing
• Responsible for development - monitoring and reporting of quality monitors for the sleep program
• Maintains appropriate equipment levels Set up of appropriate respiratory/sleep equipment to all patients admitted into service
• Responsible for education of patients as related to the equipment given and sleep hygiene
• Distributes questionnaires and retrieves responses from the patients - assuring copies are in the medical record
• Responsible for tracking and monitoring all home studies and respiratory sleep equipment in patient homes
• Responsible for ongoing quality assurance program for respiratory sleep equipment maintenance and services
• Responsible for insuring that all technical policies and medical equipment policies and/or procedures related to respiratory equipment and services are followed
• Monitor equipment recalls and equipment malfunctions ensuring proper safety follow-up
• Maintain records as required by agencies to include - but not limited to: JC - FDA - OSHA and MSDS as related to all equipment and patient care
• Responsible for independently administering complex sleep therapy treatments and procedures under a physician's orders
• Ability to properly assess patient's condition using examination and other clinical data
• Ability to demonstrate and instruct patients - family and health care providers on the proper use of sleep equipment and procedures
• Ability to maintain accurate inventories of sleep equipment
• Ability to coordinate the distribution - retrieval and data management of unattended sleep studies
• Demonstrates knowledge of computers sufficient to perform data management task and downloading of data streams from patient monitoring systems
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized