The Medical Instrument Technician (EEG) provides diagnostic examinations and/or medical treatment procedures in the Neurology Clinic/Lab and also intraoperative monitoring. They operate and set up the Neurology Clinic/Lab equipment for electrophysiology studies and works closely with the Neurologists, trainees, and other support personnel in the Neurology Service.

Duties

Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Duties include, but are not limited to: Reviews each requisition to assure that the patient history is consistent with the exam requested. Identifies the patient and compare that information with the procedure request per JCAHO approved methods of patient identification. Interviews the patient to obtain additional clinical information, and if needed will contact the clinician and/or clinic that made the request for clarification and may recommend a more appropriate exam to order. Determine techniques to use based on established protocols for maximum diagnostic effectiveness. If the diagnostic goal is not met initially, the Technologist will make an independent decision to alter the technique to achieve the goal before the patient leaves the department. Adapts neurodiagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual and often critical situations. Verifies patient demographic information to be sure it is correct and compatible with the computer format that is needed to validate patient and exam information so it can be viewed by the Neurologist and electronically stored in the archive system. Utilize a wide variety of computerized equipment and peripheral such as the EEG machine, brain mapping, video EEG telemetry with seizure detection and spike analysis software, as well as the hospital computer systems such as VISTA and CPRS. Makes continuous assessments of the image quality and equipment performance for optimum performance, image quality, and quality of diagnosis and treatment. Determine if the image quality problem can be corrected independently or if the problem needs to be reported to the Supervisor, Biomedical Engineering and/or the appropriate vendor for repair. Ability to work in a surgical type environment where a sterile field must be maintained. They will be required to wear lead aprons and other radiation protection equipment. They must be able to move heavy equipment, and assist in moving and transporting patients as well as be on their feet for extended periods of time. Maintains the assigned room with proper medical and Emergency supplies needed for optimal patient care and efficiency. Maintains all record keeping that is required and takes an active role in the hospital and Neurology QM, safety and radiation safety programs. Recognize and assess behavior during a seizure to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges. Must be aware of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on EEG, as well as other common pharmaceuticals. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations". For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition. 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-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 knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. Examples of experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level include but are not limited to the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Ability to perform more complex electroencephalography studies such as evoked potential (visual, auditory, somatosensory) and transcranial Doppler studies. Knowledge of medication effects related to electroencephalography studies and clinical situations requiring medication. Knowledge of life threatening or medically emergent testing or patient situations. Ability to recognize artifacts (patient or environmental) and document, eliminate, or take proper measures to monitor the artifact. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for surgeons and other medical staff during testing procedures. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the ability to understand the relationship of EEG and evoked potential testing in detecting states of disease and health. Knowledge of behavior assessment during seizure attacks in order to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges. Knowledge of a variety of advanced EEG equipment and peripheral equipment such as equipment for brain mapping, video EEG telemetry systems with seizure detection computers, and spike analysis software. Knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals. Ability to adapt neurodiagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual, and often critical situations. 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. Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EEG) at this level are expected to provide independent performance of a full range of procedures. The technician consistently delivers high quality studies for the most complex and non-routine procedures in difficult or demanding environments such as research, intraoperative monitoring, or intensive care monitoring. Procedures are tailored to clinical questions to be answered and may require additional monitors, electrodes, or other devices as clinically indicated. The technician interprets study results and brings to the attention of the physician or supervisor more subtle abnormalities that may require intervention. The technician will highlight portions of recordings of clinical importance for review by the clinical neurophysiologist and will accurately describe the concurrent behavior of the patient. Positive interaction with other health care staff to inform them of the indications for testing; the value, possible outcomes, and limitations of testing; and the policies of the laboratory are expected. 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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. It involves walking, frequent bending and pushing and pulling wheelchairs, stretchers or other equipment and assisting patients to and from the exam table. Duties require above average dexterity.

Education

There is no educational substitute for this grade.

Contacts

• Address Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital 11201 Benton Street Loma Linda, CA 92357 US
• Name: Courtney Blansfield
• Phone: 602-751-1286
• Email: [email protected]