Incumbent performs in-lab attended polysomnography (PSG) studies at night and all associated lab maintenance and patient care and educational tasks, sleep study scoring and reporting, titration studies using PAP or dental oral appliances or hypoglossal nerve stimulators, multiple sleep latency testing and scoring, and working with advanced PAP modalities including AVAPS, ASV and duties as needed. The incumbent serves under the clinical direction of neurology sleep specialty physicians.

Duties

The incumbent will perform all duties and procedures in maintaining an effective Sleep Clinic including working closely with patients and families, physicians, techs, and other departments as needed. Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Polysomnography(PSG). This includes the use of EEG video equipment, video/audio mixers, respiration monitors for respiration effort, airflow, EKG, EOG, EMG, oximetry. Tabulate & summarize data, score sleep and respiratory parameters. Multiple Sleep Latency testing. This includes the use of EEG recording with adjunct recordings of respiration monitors, airflow, EKG, EOG, and EMG. Tabulate and summarize data and score sleep stages. Scoring: The technician will score portable and/or attended sleep studies prior to specialist review; and alert specialist of critical findings. Creates sleep study report for specialist's review. Scan results documents into patient chart. Educate patients and caregivers about sleep-disordered breathing and how sleep studies can identify sleep apnea. CPAP setup and evaluation. Able to independently program, set-up and adjust settings on PAP equipment based on prescription, working with a variety of brands and types of PAP (CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, AVAPS and others). Demonstrate to patient how to use, clean, and maintain masks and equipment to assure proper function and extended use. Troubleshoot machine and/or mask to determine patient barriers to use and correct them. Downloads data and creates electronic chart documentation of download results. Takes appropriate immediate action based on download results including correcting leaks and minor pressure adjustments. Positive Airway Pressure data monitoring: Includes downloading, charting, evaluation and appropriate action-taking of PAP adherence and efficacy data from PAP machines, SD cards, modems or other technology as needed. Electroencephalographic testing. With on-the-job training, when needed, will perform routine, sleep-deprived and portable EEG studies, with activation including hyperventilation and photic stimulation in addition to sleep deprivation, reaction time monitoring, and cognitive challenges. Able to manage cardiac rhythm irregularities, able to recognize anticonvulsant and other medication effects in EEG recording. Monitor and document seizures or other potential emergencies (diabetic coma, third degree heart block). Able to recognize and document mental health issues that can be mimicked by neurological diseases and vice-versa. Work Schedule: Full-Time (80 hours/2-week pay period). Rotating/Night shifts (Four night shifts per week), Monday to Sunday, 8:00pm-7:00am Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: AUTHORIZED Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grandfathering Provision: 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: Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography), GS-6 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 (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters. 2. 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. 3. Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc. 4. Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc.). 5. 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-7 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, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices. 2. Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals. 3. Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy. 4. Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations. 5. 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-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: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 physician Preferred Experience: GS 8 with Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) and 3-5 years experience preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART II, APPENDIX G27 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-6 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Rolane Jack
• Phone: 808-835-9634
• Email: [email protected]