Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) performs a wide variety of polysomnographic studies in the sleep laboratory, including routine polysomnograms and PAP titration studies using CPAP, bi-level, and ASV technologies. The position may involve work in the hospital sleep lab during the day or night and may include inpatient procedures. The technician educates veterans and family members, and follows technical, hospital, federal, and state regulations, as well as recommendations from AASM, JCAHO, BRPT, and AAST.

The role requires a high-level understanding of filters, sensitivities, gain, AC/DC filters and inputs, bio-calibrations, machine calibrations, instrumentation, and electrical safety. The incumbent maintains knowledge through professional journals, educational conferences, and other learning opportunities. This is a full-performance GS-8 position involving complex procedures and uncommon or rare sleep disorders. Technicians interact with patients and physicians, conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies, assess relationships among events, sleep stages, and medical conditions, anticipate and respond to problems, and may mentor lower-graded technicians.

The position is permanent and not virtual. Telework is unavailable. The scheduled work hours are 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The posting describes federal employment benefits, including paid leave, paid federal holidays, parental leave, possible childcare subsidy, retirement benefits, and federal insurance programs.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, demonstrating knowledge of complex procedures and uncommon or rare sleep disorders.
• Advanced knowledge of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and ability to recognize uncommon or rare sleep disorders.
• Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
• Knowledge of event characteristics, including respiratory, cardiac, sleep-stage, and seizure events, and ability to take appropriate action.
• Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff, including physicians.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Education is not specifically required for this occupation; education may substitute for experience only at GS-4 and GS-5 levels.
• Licensure or certification is not required for this occupation.

Nice To Haves

• RPSGT certification through the BRPT.
• BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification.
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine polysomnograms and PAP titration studies using CPAP, bi-level, and ASV technologies, following standard procedures for performing, scoring, and reviewing sleep studies.
• Educate veterans and their family members about procedures and involve them in decisions about sleep testing and therapy.
• Follow technical, hospital, federal, state, Joint Commission, VA, and OSHA regulations and safety procedures, including infection control and equipment-use policies.
• Maintain knowledge of polysomnography and instrumentation, including filters, sensitivities, gain, AC/DC filters and inputs, bio-calibrations, machine calibrations, and electrical safety.
• Attend monthly staff meetings and educational opportunities, participate in presentations, complete required annual VA training, and maintain continuing education credits required by regulations.
• Troubleshoot and repair EEG, EKG, EOG, EMG, and respiratory monitoring equipment as needed.
• Recognize when a situation exceeds personal skill level and seek assistance from a supervisor.
• Perform timely and accurate patient hookups using the international 10-20 measurement system.
• Provide compassionate, quality care to veterans and communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Recognize and treat complex patients and adapt to changing situations.
• Learn to titrate patients who have the Inspire device.
• Program and coordinate initiation of home sleep study devices with patients.
• Record patient treatment and progress notes accurately and promptly in the CPRS-based patient record system.
• Provide complete and accurate statistical data, including encounter forms, within prescribed timeframes.
• Conduct full sleep studies, including overnight studies, and evaluate relationships among events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions.
• Anticipate problems during sleep studies, prepare for them, modify established procedures, or recommend alternative actions as appropriate.
• Interact with patients and physicians to diagnose sleep disorders, including uncommon or rare disorders, and summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
• Provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff, including physicians, and mentor lower-graded technicians as applicable.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed