Medical Instrument Technologist (EEG)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The technician operates and monitors neurodiagnostic equipment in the Neurodiagnostic Center at the Asheville VA Medical Center, performing routine and specialized EEGs, NCVs, evoked potentials, and intraoperative monitoring to assist diagnostic and treatment decisions.

They maintain and troubleshoot equipment, communicate with biomedical engineering and vendor support, prepare patients, interpret basic testing data, and document procedures in VistA/CPRS, adhering to VA policies and safety

Qualifications

• Active knowledge of EEG, NCV, EP, and LTM procedures.
• Ability to explain procedures and reduce patient anxiety.
• Familiarity with neurophysiology concepts and terminology.

Responsibilities

• Operate routine and specialized EEGs (awake/asleep, portable, PET/SPECT).
• Perform NCV, EP, IOM, MSLT, LTMs as required.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot neurodiagnostic equipment.
• Prepare patients and obtain consent for procedures.
• Document results and communicate findings to medical staff.

Skills

Neurodiagnostic procedures

Patient communication

Equipment maintenance

VistA CPRS familiarity

Job description

Summary

The technician operates and monitors neurodiagnostic equipment in the Neurodiagnostic Center at the Asheville - NC VAMC - VISN 6

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
• 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: For the GS-9: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level - positions at this grade may be lead - supervisory - or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments
• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Credential Required: Registration by the American Board of Registration of EEG - CNIM &EP Technologists (ABRET) or the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists (AEET) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: The technician independently performs routine and specialized EEG's (including awake and asleep recordings - portable recordings - and electrocerebral silence recordings) - EEG's during PET - SPECT - and - WADA
• They perform routine and specialized NCV's - routine and specialized Intraoperative monitoring (electrocorticography) - Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT) - routine and specialized Evoked Potential (EP) and routine and invasive Long Term Epilepsy Monitoring (LTM)
• Functions: Equipment: The technician will independently operate a variety of neurodiagnostic equipment to administer routine and specialized diagnostic or treatment procedures
• The technician will conduct routine maintenance - and adjustment checks on the equipment
• The technician will recognize and trouble shoot equipment failures
• They will communicate with manufacturer technical support to fix equipment problems
• They will communicate with Bio-medical engineering to fix equipment problems
• They will notify supervisor if they are unable to fix equipment problems
• Medical Terminology: The technician will understand more advanced medical terminology - neuroanatomy - neurophysiology - and neuroradiology and how it relates to the neurodiagnostic testing being performed
• The technician will have knowledge of acute neurologic disorders and their effects on organs and methods of treatment
• The technician knows antiepileptic and other medication (neuropharmacology) effect on neurodiagnostic studies
• The technician will have the ability to interpret testing data to provide information for medical or surgical staff during testing procedures
• Testing: The EEG technician will utilize standard or alternate positions for patients with common physical disabilities for the procedure being performed
• They will utilize two methods of patient identification
• They will fully explain the testing procedure to the patient and family members and alleviate fears
• The technician is able to deal with more complex or difficult patients
• They will utilize the 10/20 method of electrode application during EEGs The technician will follow established laboratory protocol in performing standard and specialized EEG - NCV - IOM - MSLT's - EP's - Polysomnograms - and LTMs
• hey will obtain written permission to perform audio and video during the procedures that require such
• They will perform routine and specialized activation procedures during the EEG's and know the contraindications to performing the activations
• Communications: The technician will interact with other healthcare professionals to discuss the indications - value - possible outcomes - and limitations of testing
• The technician will communicate both orally and in writing with patients - visitors - non-healthcare and a variety of healthcare professionals
• They will communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels
• They will utilize The Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture ( VistA ) and CPRS to access patient information - receive memoranda - and send and receive work related e-mail Clerical functions: Schedules patients for procedures
• Calls patients to fill gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Incumbent schedules outpatient clinic appointments using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) scheduling options
• Use established business rules to schedule appointments for veterans
• This includes clinic visits - consultations and entries into the Electronic Wait List (EWL)
• Complies with the mandatory training requirements for the outpatient scheduling process
• Prioritizes patients to be scheduled
• Send procedure specific instruction letters for scheduled appointments
• Answers dept phone - returns patient calls - and transfers calls as needed
• Maintains a daily log of patients and procedures
• Completes proper electronic and written information for each procedure performed Utilizes VISTA - CPRS and Neurodiagnostic specific medical equipment to complete administrative duties with each procedure
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: This is not a telework position Virtual: This is not a virtual position Remote: This is not a remote position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized