Summary Full-time day technician based at Martinez, CA clinic in the Sleep Section of the Northern California VA Neurology Department. The duties encompass a wide range of clinical, technical, and clerical responsibilities for our comprehensive sleep program. S/he will use telemedicine when needed for coverage & coordination with other sleep clinic locations within the healthcare system. Responsibilities The incumbent will perform all duties and procedures in maintaining an effective Sleep Clinic including working closely with patients and families, physicians, techs, and other departments as needed. Specifically, the incumbent performs the following: Portable Sleep Apnea Study. Setting up patient with monitors to record multiple respiration parameters for diagnosing sleep apnea with nasal and oral airflow, respiratory effort, body position, oximetry, and snoring. Validate recording succeeded. Download and electronically transfer for scoring and processing. Scan results documents into patient chart. Educate patients and caregivers about sleep-disordered breathing and how portable sleep studies can identify sleep apnea Scoring: The technician will score portable and/or attended polysomnography sleep studies prior to specialist review; and alert specialist of critical findings. Creates sleep study report for specialist's review. Scan results documents into patient chart. Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) portable titration. This includes selecting and fitting patient with appropriate interface devices. Demonstrate how to use masks and equipment to assure appropriate function. Instructs patients and their significant other or caregiver in PAP set-ups for overnight portable sleep testing, ensure full understanding of the procedure and function of PAP unit. Provides patient supplies including filters, hoses, masks, chinstraps, and headgear for home PAP testing. Able to identify indications, complications, and contraindications of PAP therapy. Able to complete titration with interface between sleep recorder and PAP for extensive titration. Able to interface PAP with home oximetry monitor for follow-up evaluation of efficacy. Receives posttest PAP units and downloads sleep data via smartcard, submit to licensed Sleep provider for review. Create electronic chart note that documents a summary of posttest download data for specialist review. CPAP/ DME Clinic. Able to independently program, set-up and adjust settings on PAP equipment based on prescription, working with a variety of brands and @types of PAP (CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, AVAPS and others). Demonstrate to patient how to use, clean, and maintain masks and equipment to assure proper function and extended use. Troubleshoot machine and/or mask to determine patient barriers to use and correct them. Downloads data and creates electronic chart documentation of download results. Takes appropriate immediate action based on download results including correcting leaks and minor pressure adjustments. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (PST) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Remote: This is not a remote position. Position Description/PD#: 612-05445F (6), 612-05446F (7), 612-05447F (8) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications Basic Requirements 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) GS-6 : 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: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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 polysomnographic 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. Certification: No certification or registration is required at this level. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. 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). Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) GS-7: 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 the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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. Certification: No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable. Assignment: At this level the Polysomnography Technician performs a full range of standard, but complex, polysomnography examinations with responsibility for properly and accurately calibrating all instruments prior to the beginning of the PSG tracing and selection of appropriate electrode montages and sensitivity and filter settings to elicit the best possible tracings. They independently determine the need for CPAP during all night sleep studies for sleep apnea. They may administer nerve conduction velocity tests. Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) GS-8 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level. Assignment: This represents the full performance level. At this level Polysomnographic Technicians are able to interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare. They are able to conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep. They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations, make changes in established procedures, or recommend alternative courses of action. They are able to mentor lower graded technicians. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART II, APPENDIX G27 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-8 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
