Job opening: Medical Instrument Technician -Polysomnography
Salary: $36 209 - 70 578 per year
Published at: Oct 04 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Ft. Harrison VA Health Care System located in Montana is currently recruiting for two GS 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 Medical Instrument Technicians-Polysomnography Technicians.
Duties
The full performance level of the Medical Records Technician-Polysomnography Technician duties include, but aren't limited to the following:
GS-4 & GS-5 graded positions are trainee positions that are taught the following duties as they progress through their training
As employees are promoted to grades GS-6 & GS-7 they are trained to perform more complex duties w/ more degrees of independence until they are promoted to GS-8
GS-8 graded employees are full performance employees & perform the following duties independently w/ minimal supervisor input
Monitors patients during all stages of sleep utilizing a variety of sophisticated recording devices to score/analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnographic recordings
Summarizes & prepares polysomnographic data reports
Anticipates problems likely to occur during the sleep study & makes changes in established procedures, or recommends alternative courses of action
Is knowledgeable in more complex procedures & uncommon/rare sleep disorders
Reviews patient history related to sleep disorders & medical conditions which may affect the diagnosis of sleep disorders
Explains various procedures to the patient
Performs sleep monitoring (polysomnography) on patients w/ possible sleep apnea or arterial desaturations secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other medical conditions
Performs sleep monitoring on individuals w/ other potential sleep disorders including, but not limited to, narcolepsy and periodic limb movement disorder
Applies continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) to appropriate levels per established protocols
Applies oxygen therapy per established protocols
Responsible for the safe & proper operation of all equipment used in the Sleep Center
Verifies correct instrument calibration & operation using established procedures
Identifies common problems & notifies engineering service as needed
Obtains technical or factory assistance in order to fully utilize the equipment to its full potential
Must be able to recognize sleep onset during nap opportunities
Performs Home Sleep Testing(HST) procedures, scores & prepares HSAT reports
Has a working knowledge of sleep software: Sleepware G3, Somnoware, Noxturnal, nVision, Care Orchestrator, AirView & Actiware
Assists w/ nocturnal oximetry & Actigraphy programs
Monitors supply inventory & initiates purchase requests in a timely fashion to avoid disruption of scheduled studies
Interacts w/ staff physicians regarding diagnosis & treatment of sleep disorders & may provide briefings & orientation to hospital staff including physicians
Provides patient education during the performance of sleep studies & may assist w/ sleep education classes
Assists w/ scheduling of sleep studies as needed
Assists w/ maintaining department spread sheets for department performance measures
Assists w/ providing sleep study results to patients
Assists w/ MD/PA sleep clinics as needed
Mentors lower graded technicians
Attends courses in sleep related subject matters
Stays abreast of technological developments related, but not limited to, polysomnographic technology
Proficient w/ computer databases & word processing to prepare reports
Maintains current BLS course completion card, (& ACLS if possible)
Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance w/ the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 & other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes & policies
Protects data from unauthorized release or from loss; alteration, or unauthorized deletion
Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc
Demonstrates I-Care values when interacting w/ all internal/external customers
Maintains current knowledge of & practices in accordance w/ The Joint Commission requirements
Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data according to Federal privacy Act & confidentiality statutes
Follows regulations & instructions regarding release of sensitive/protected patient/ employee information
May serve on Service Line/VISN 19/medical center committees, workgroups, &/or task forces, etc.
Performs other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Friday-Sunday, from 7pm-7am, & one 8 hour shift on Thursday every other week.
Duty Location: This position is located at an off site facility located at: 2271 Deerfield Lane Helena MT 59602
Compressed Schedule: Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD04-58592-A,05-58593-A,06-51227-A,07-51228-A,08-51229-A, PD04-58592-A,05-58593-A,06-51227-A,07-51228-A,08-51229-A, and PD04-58592-A,05-58593-A,06-51227-A,07-51228-A,08-51229-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Qualifications
Applicants pending completion of educational/certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can't 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 US citizens
English Language Proficiency Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English
Education. There are no specific educational requirements for occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at GS-4 & GS-5 levels. See grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure/certification/registration that are part occupation's basic requirements. For employees who don't meet all basic requirements required in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position when they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
Such employees in occupation that doesn't require a licensure/certification/ registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted w/in occupation but won't be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory/managerial positions
Such employees in occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including full performance (journey) level, or demoted w/in occupation, but can't be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory/managerial positions
Employees initially grandfathered into occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all qualification standard basic requirements must maintain required credentials, as a condition of employment in occupation
Grade Determination Requirements: Criteria discussed in applicable headings must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment.
GS-4 Trainee
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. 6 months of experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing or similar fields. Remaining 6 months must have been in operating diagnostic & therapeutic equipment covered by occupation. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.
OR
Education. Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school or associate's degree w/ a major field of study directly related to medical instrument technician occupation
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Knowledge of basic medical terminology
2) Ability to learn components, operating characteristics & settings of equipment used
3) Ability to learn typical patient reactions to basic procedures involved & ability to recognize distress signs
4) Ability to learn standard positions for procedure being conducted
5) Ability to communicate orally & in writing
GS-5 Trainee
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience in operating equipment related to polysomnography or in related functional areas. Experience gained in operating 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 bachelor's degree w/ courses related to occupation or bachelor's degree in major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
2) Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
3) Ability to learn the normal/abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize & report obvious abnormalities
4) Ability to operate equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
5) Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on equipment including ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble & calibrate machine
GS-6
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties.
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG & respiratory parameters
2) Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines & laboratory computers including ability to calibrate & operate equipment & recognize & eliminate recording artifacts
3) Knowledge of medical terminology & 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 & international 10-20 electrode placement system to conduct the sleep studies
GS-7
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided individual w/ KSAs to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Knowledge of CPAP function & operation to select & fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices
2) Ability to independently titrate & document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals
3) Knowledge of indications, complications & contraindications of CPAP therapy
4) Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations
5) Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing & identify all sleep stages, including ability to score & analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings
GS-8
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided a knowledge of more complex procedures & knowledge of uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Advanced knowledge or International Classification of Sleep Disorders & ability to recognize uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders
2) Ability to summarize & report polysomnographic data in narrative form
3) Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) & ability to take appropriate action
4) Ability to provide briefings & orientation to hospital staff including physicians
Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnography Technologist certification from Board of Registered Polysomnography Technologists. Sleep lab experience. BLS &/or ALS certification
Reference: For more information on qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Vacancy full performance level is a GS-8. Applicants may be selected in grade ranges GS-4 to GS-8
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to use your hands to grasp & precisely manipulate objects
Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken or written word
Must be able to view, read, enter, edit & manipulate information on computer screens
Must pass, possess & maintain BLS certification
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, (if applicable), (name of degree received, (if applicable).
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:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Contacts
- Address Montana VA Health Care System
3687 Veterans Drive
Fort Harrison, MT 59636
US
- Name: Jeannie Wright
- Phone: (970) 263-6272
- Email: [email protected]
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