Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties of the Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) included but are not limited to: Polysomnography (PSG)

• Responsible for reviewing patient history as it relates to sleep disorders and other medical conditions that may affect the diagnosis of sleep disorders.
• Provides education to patients related to procedures and studies to be performed; secures the cooperation of patients by explaining procedures to obtain optimal results.
• Ability to conduct full sleep studies, including overnight studies, and evaluate the relationship of events and sleep stages as they relate to possible medical conditions related to sleep.
• Independently performs both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures for adult and geriatric patients. Examples include, but are not limited to, PSG, PAP titration, split night, and Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT) testing procedures.
• Possesses knowledge of equipment used to perform testing including functional characteristics, operating capabilities, and operator adjustments of the instrumentation.
• Verifies instrument function by performing calibrations before a study is started and after the study has been completed. Ensures proper signals and adjusts as necessary.
• Independently implements appropriate therapeutic interventions, such as PAP and oxygen therapy, to appropriate levels per established protocols.
• Performs PSG data acquisition while monitoring study tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and makes adjustments as necessary.
• Documents routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events to facilitate scoring and interpretation of study results.
• Scores sleep/ wake stages and clinical events by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Generates accurate reports by tabulating sleep/ wake and clinical event data.

Home Sleep Testing (HST)

• Provides step-by-step instructions for home sleep testing including information on the device, how and when to use the device, and how and when to return the device.
• Provides oral, visual, and written instructions on HST units including placement of the device, placement of the sensors, powering on the device, and removing the device to end testing.
• Issues HST devices in person in the clinic, by mail with disposable devices, or by a contracted vendor. Devices will be packaged with all necessary sensors and batteries and will be shipped using a service with tracking capabilities.

Clinic Management

• Receives patients in clinic; performs and documents vital signs, neck size, and weight.
• Assists patients with the completion of questionnaires and additional information including, but not limited to, chief complaints, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Stop Score, sleep habits/ symptoms, etc.
• Provides education to patients related to PAP device setup and use; secures the confidence and cooperation of patients by explaining equipment and procedures to obtain optimal results.
• Assists with the completion of electronic consults, answering provider secure messages, and responding to telephone messages.
• Dedicated to providing same day service for needs of patients who have been seen in clinic, including, but not limited to mask fitting, troubleshooting PAP device problems, PAP therapy initiation and management, pressure adjustments, issuing HST equipment, desensitization, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Subject to change by supervisor to meet facility needs.
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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 #: 520-01070-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• May be required to complete a physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• 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". 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.
• Language. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3.J.

Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technologist (Polysomnography),GS-08 : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

• 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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 or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable for employees at this level.

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).


Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of polysomnography testing, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, home sleep testing (HST), and PAP compliance.
• Knowledge of computer systems and programs used to perform studies, download data, and provide scoring and interpretation of results (Somnoware, CloudPat, WatchPat, Airview, Care Orchestrator) is desirable. Knowledge of remote order entry system for supply management
• Knowledge of diagnoses, testing, and treatments related to sleep medicine

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.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.