Fee Basis - Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Fee-Basis Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) within Medicine Service on a Fee-for-Service basis.

The primary duty is to monitor and operate sleep study equipment and contribute to diagnostic processes. At GS-8, you will apply advanced knowledge of sleep disorders, mentor technicians, and provide briefings to hospital staff including physicians.

Qualifications

• No specific educational requirements; substitution for experience allowed at GS-4/GS-5.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Licensure or certification not required, but desirable at GS-6+.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and operate equipment used in sleep studies.
• Mentor lower graded technicians.
• Provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.

Skills

Sleep study procedures

Equipment operation

Mentoring

Education

No formal education requirement

Tools

Polysomnography equipment

Job description

This opportunity for a Fee-Basis Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) is within the Medicine Service, on a Fee-for-Service basis. The primary responsibility of this position is monitor and operate equipment used in sleep studies. 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

• 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.)
• 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.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 certificates appropriate to specialty are indicated in the 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).

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.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations

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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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 or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.

Assignment. This represents the full performance level. At this level Polysomnographic Technicians are able to interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare. They are able to conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep. They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations, make changes in established procedures, or recommend alternative courses of action. They are able to mentor lower graded technicians.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 8.

Physical Requirements:

Some of the work involves regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Extended periods of sitting may be required when attending meetings or completion of administrative tasks. Work may require physical stamina, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Normal safety precautions and practices are required for working in a healthcare environment. Position requires emotional stability to deal effectively with multitasking and high-volume patient flow and competing demands. Professional appearances per medical center dress code, attitude and demeanor are required.