Medical Instrument Technician - Polysomnography

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; White City (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Polysomnography Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices to record brain activity during sleep at the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC). This role reports to the Supervisor of the Respiratory Department under the Associate Chief of Staff‑Specialty Care.

Education and certification requirements vary: formal education may be substituted at GS-4/5 levels; licensure is not required but desirable for higher levels. Proficiency in English is essential.

Qualifications

• Education substitutions may be made at GS-*4/5 levels.
• KSAs include knowledge of medical terminology, ability to learn equipment and typical patient reactions, and ability to communicate.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) required.

Responsibilities

• Operate PSG equipment and record overnight sleep studies.
• Titrate PAP therapy and document sleep study results.
• Follow standard procedures and safety protocols in the sleep lab.

Skills

Medical terminology knowledge

Equipment operation knowledge

Communication skills (oral & written)

Education

Two years of education above high school or associate's degree related to medical instrument technician

Bachelor's degree in a field related to medical instrument technician

Tools

Polysomnography equipment operation

CPAP devices knowledge

Job description

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). Polysomnography Technicians report to the Supervisor of the Respiratory Department under the Associate Chief of Staff‑Specialty Care, located at the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC). 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.
• 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.
• 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\".
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive/Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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‑04 Medical Instrument Technician Trainee‑Polysomnography

(a) 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 position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

OR,

1. Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology. 2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used. 3. Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress. 4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted. 5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

GS‑5 Medical Instrument Technician Trainee‑Polysomnography

(a) 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 position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

OR,

(b) Education. Successful completion of [4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or] a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions. 2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment. 3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities. 4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures. 5. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.

GS‑06 Medical Instrument Technician‑Polysomnography

(a) 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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.

(c) Certification. No certification or registration is required at this level. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

(d) Assignment. Polysomnography (PSG) Technicians at this level perform a full range of standard, routine examinations including overnight sleep studies, MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test), MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test), and PAP (Positive Airway Pressure Titration).

GS‑7 Medical Instrument Technician‑Polysomnography

(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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.

(c) Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

Preferred Experience

RPSGT with at least 2 years experience.

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 may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08.

Qualification Standards continued in Education section