The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 1 intermittent Medical Instrument Technicians (Polysomnography) for the Specialty Care Service Line. This position is located at the Des Moines VA Medical Center, 3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310. **Salary will be pro-rated for actual hours worked.*** 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 (a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of polysomnography services and is defined as: Advanced knowledge of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders; Summarizing and reporting polysomnographic data in narrative form; Working knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and taking appropriate action; Providing briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. -Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Polysomnography. *-Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements. -Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels. *-Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Certification. Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level. References: JUNE 7, 2012 VA HANDBOOK 5005/54 PART II APPENDIX G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: 1. Mental, visual, and hearing demand: a. Continuous visual and auditory attention and mental alertness required throughout the shift. Must be sensitive to potentially life-threatening changes in patient status 2. Working conditions: a. Must remain alert in a possibly dimly lit environment that is conducive to sleep. Exposure to disinfectants when applying equipment and cleaning equipment. 3. Health and hazards: a. Possible exposure to infectious disease. Potential for injury if not careful when assisting obese patients 4. Mental, visual, and hearing demand: a. Continuous visual attention, auditory attention, and mental alertness required throughout the shift 5. Physical demands: a. The position requires extensive sitting for shifts 10-13 hours in length. On a shift basis it is required to set-up patients with monitoring equipment and requires extended lengths of time walking, standing, bending, stooping, and / or lifting. Must assist patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs as well as transport patients via wheelchair. Many patients having sleep studies are obese. The chart below provides greater detail regarding the physical demands of the position ["The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Sleep Medicine is the field of clinical practice and scientific inquiry that encompasses the study of physiological, behavioral, and psychological factors underlying normal and disordered sleep across the life span, and the development and application of evidence-based approaches to the prevention and treatment of sleep disorders and co-existing conditions. The Medical instrument technician will be responsible for performing clinical activities related to the VISN 23 sleep program to veterans. Duties include but are not limited to: 1) Diagnostic testing: Unattended sleep studies a) Distribute, retrieve, download portable monitors b) Score portable monitor recordings c) Develop and implement policies and procedures for maintaining portable equipment and supplies d) Clean and maintain equipment between tests e) Ensure sensor integrity f) Maintain adequate supplies of disposable items and sensors g) Assist in performance of QA program of out-of-laboratory testing i. Number of studies ii. Number of failed studies iii. Reasons for failure iv. Maintenance and usage records of individual units v. Appointment wait time h) Track location of the recording units and follow policies and procedures when patients fail to return a unit in a timely manner. 2) Diagnostic testing: Attended sleep studies and Titrations studies a) Patient instruction and education b) Patient assessment related to sleep disorders c) Patient setup, calibration and acquisition performance d) Monitoring of multiple physiological data throughout the test e) Troubleshooting of polysomnographic recording equipment f) Perform pre and post-test calibrations g) Identify and treat sleep related breathing disorders h) Recognize the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk i) Remove and sterilize electrodes and sensors at completion of study j) The staging of the sleep studies k) Document all data in CPRS including for scoring l) The Scoring of Sleep Studies. 3) Participate in new technology/equipment development/evaluation Maintain laboratory equipment according to schedules. Identify name, location and function of emergency supplies. Maintain emergency supplies inventory 4) Educate patients and medical staff a) Perform patient education regarding CPAP treatment and sleep hygiene b) Distribute brochures and other relevant educational materials to patients about commonly encountered problems (sleep apnea, obesity, driving safety, sleep hygiene, psychophysiological insomnia, narcolepsy and others) c) Reinforce educational information and answer patient questions, or refer to care provider as needed d) Assist in training and education of medical staff 5) Provide technical support during outpatient clinic sessions a) Serve as liaison between patient and healthcare provider b) Perform mask fittings and adjust PAP settings as ordered by provider c) Order PAP machines and supplies through Prosthetics Department d) Troubleshoot PAP-related issues as needed, particularly those regarding the interface e) Alert care provider to non-adherence patterns f) Order CPAP supplies for patients Work Schedule: Intermittent, \"As needed\", Monday-Friday 7:00p.m.-7:00a.m. (12 hours/week or less) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment Incentive: No Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
