Summary

The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is seeking a Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) - GS-8 - for the Anesthesiology Service. The Sleep Technician works under the general supervision of the Section Chief of Respiratory - the medical director - or their designee - and is responsible for providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizenship of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) b
• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• c
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• 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
• Polysomnography Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices to record the electrical activity of the brain during sleep
• Registration is offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)
• Grade Determination: 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 as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
• 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 physicians
• Certification
• No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications
• Preferred Experience: Demonstrates ability to score sleep studies in real time
• Proficiency in scoring and interpreting polysomnographic data - including sleep stages - sleep architecture - arousals - respiratory events - and periodic limb movements
• Strong documentation skills - with the ability to maintain accurate - thorough records of polysomnographic and diagnostic evaluations - including patient histories and follow-up recommendations
• Ability to accurately analyze - interpret - and troubleshoot complex clinical data
• Experience with healthcare software systems - including Nikon Kohen - and related documentation platforms
• 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-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected for this vacancy is GS-08
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties may include - but are not limited to: The sleep technologist shall have an extensive background in pulmonary and/or sleep medicine technology with proficiency in patient care and is responsible for facilitating many phases of the sleep apnea program
• Responsible for reviewing patient history as it relates to sleep disorders
• He/she is responsible for explaining the various procedures to the patient
• Independently performs sleep monitoring (polysomnography) on individuals with possible sleep apnea or arterial desaturations secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other medical conditions
• Independently performs sleep monitoring on individuals with other potential sleep disorders including - but not limited to - narcolepsy and periodic limb movement disorder
• Independently applies continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or BILEVEL positive airway pressure (BiPAP) to appropriate levels
• Applies oxygen therapy as needed
• Responsible for the safe and proper operation of all equipment used in the Sleep Center
• Job Knowledge: Demonstrates expert knowledge and expertise required to perform Sleep studies and Diagnostic services to care for patients
• Demonstrates knowledge with patients with significant cardiac or respiratory disease basic respiratory physiology is needed
• Expertly monitors and evaluates patient performance during procedures and evaluates response to therapy and recommends changes based on information obtained
• Demonstrates expert proficiency in all general care areas
• Demonstrates expert proficiency in all sleep monitoring on individuals with disorders
• Quality of Care: Expert ability to plan - provide and maintain a safe environment for patients - staff and families
• Demonstrates expert proficiency at operating all equipment used in polysomnographic procedures
• Expertly provides accurate - legible and complete documentation of patient care delivered and response to therapy
• Provides expert care according to established policies and procedures and protocols
• Initiates new therapy efficiently and accordance with policy
• Critical Thinking: Expert recognition of changes in patient conditions and responds appropriately
• Communicates with other members of the healthcare team when changes in condition occur
• Expert knowledge and background in order to recommends alternative patient therapies when appropriate
• Reports problems following the departmental chain of command
• Dependability: Completes assigned and delegated responsibilities within established time frames
• Meets Ralph H
• Johnson VA Hospital time and attendance standards
• Productivity/Financial Management: Demonstrates expert ability to plan and prioritize assigned workload to assure completion
• Expert ability to ensure completion of documentation
• Uses resources appropriately to minimize waste
• Work Schedule: 6:30pm-7:00am
• (This clinic is open daily - outside of holidays) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 #:57793F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized