Summary
The position is allied to the Neurology Service and functionally aligned to the Neurophysiology (EEG) Lab. The incumbent will serve as the Medical Instrument Technician (EEG Technologist) of the Neurophysiology Lab, and has direct accountability to the lab manager, designee, lead technician, Director of the Epilepsy Center of Excellence and Chief of Neurology Service.
Clarification from the agency
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Duties
Major Duties:
Equipment:
- The technician will conduct routine maintenance and adjustment checks on the equipment.
- The technicians will recognize and troubleshoot equipment failures. They will communicate with EEG equipment manufacturers a supervisor if unable to fix equipment problems.
- The technician will interface with company representatives and will be familiar with new techniques.
- Cleans, adjusts, and performs routine maintenance and repair on electroencephalograph and video monitoring equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Maintains equipment in good working condition by performing minor and emergency repairs and arranging for additional repairs or maintenance of all lab equipment.
- They will notify supervisor if unable to fix equipment problems
Medical Terminology, pharmacology disorders and anatomy:
- The technician will understand more advance medical terminology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, neuroradiology and how it relates to the Neurodiagnostic testing being performed.
- The technician will have the ability to interpret testing data to provide information for medical staff during testing procedures.
- Has extensive knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals.
- The technician has knowledge of acute neurologic disorder and their effects on organs and methods of treatment.
Testing:
- Must be able to perform procedures independently but works under the direction of the Director, Epilepsy Center of Excellence or his designee.
- The technician performs as an expert EEG technician. They maintain state of the art quality in the principles, practices and procedures associated with Electroencephalography. Using state of the art equipment the incumbent obtains EEGs, ambulatory EEGs and notify patients with a variety of serious medical and neurological illnesses.
- Identify correct patient by name, identification number, date of birth, ordering provider, and type of procedure to be performed and communicate the monitoring plan to the patient/caregivers/family in language consistent with their ability to understand.
- Utilizes the 10-20 and 10-10 method of electrode application.
- Verifies I-Med consent is completed for permission to perform audio and video recording during procedures.
- Performs routine and specialized activation procedures during the EEG's and is knowledgeable with the contraindications to performing the activations.
- Uses standard montages according to American Clinical neurophysiology Society Guidelines in Electroencephalography.
- All of the testing performed requires on line analysis by the technician to obtain the necessary data for correct diagnosis of the patient
- Annotates observed behavior or anomalies on recordings.
- The technician is able to utilize the sophisticated equipment to obtain continuous video-EEG monitoring in patients with undiagnosed spells.
- The technician's skill and accuracy in testing techniques has a significant effect on the accuracy and reliability of further treatment.
- Reviews ambulatory EEG recordings and highlights, clips sections of patient's seizures or abnormal brain functioning for review by a Neurologist. Marks highlighted sections noting time of day and patient status (awake, standing, sitting, sleeping, events, etc.).
- Explains procedure to patient to help eliminate fears/concerns and interviews patient to obtain required medical information to ensure safety during procedure.
- Sets up monitoring equipment for epilepsy patients or patients with other neurological disorders. Prepares and operates computerized video monitoring equipment for prolonged period of time to record patient's brain activity through the use of scalp electrodes . Reviews long-term video monitoring recordings and highlights, clips sections of patient's seizures or abnormal brain functioning for review by a Neurologist. Marks highlighted sections noting time of day and patient status (awake, standing, sitting, sleeping, events, etc.).
- Reviews planned intraoperative procedure and orders for monitoring to determine the structures at risks relative to patient history/pre-existing conditions and monitoring requested
- Monitors patient brain waves during carotid endarterectomies.
Patient Safety:
- Observes electrical safety precautions in connecting patient to equipment.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:Not authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
- 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.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
a. Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
e. 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.
*Electroencephalograph (EEG) Technicians operate the electroencephalograph and other devices such as evoked potential equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain. Registration is offered by the American Board of Registration of EEG, CNIM & EP Technologists (ABRET) or the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Techs (AAET). (See Appendix F)
Grade Requirements as a GS-6
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
1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, and EEG interpretation.
2. Ability to position patients for the examination or treatment including using standard alternate positions for patient with common physical disabilities.
3. Ability to operate the appropriate EEG equipment to administer routine, standardized diagnostic or treatment procedures.
4. Knowledge of normal and abnormal results to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
5. Knowledge of universal precautions and basic sterilization methods to clean instruments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
6. Knowledge of EEG and peripheral equipment to conduct routine maintenance and adjustment checks.
Grade requirements as a GS-7
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 positions to be filled? This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized electroencephalography examinations. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Ability to perform more complex electroencephalography studies such as evoked potential (visual, auditory, somatosensory) and transcranial Doppler studies.
2. Knowledge of medication effects related to electroencephalography studies and clinical situations requiring medication.
3. Knowledge of life threatening or medically emergent testing or patient situations.
4. Ability to recognize artifacts (patient or environmental) and document, eliminate, or take proper measures to monitor the artifact.
Grade Requirements as a GS-8
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 knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for surgeons and other medical staff during testing procedures.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the ability to understand the relationship of EEG and evoked potential testing in detecting states of disease and health.
3. Knowledge of behavior assessment during seizure attacks in order to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges.
4. Knowledge of a variety of advanced EEG equipment and peripheral equipment such as equipment for brain mapping, video EEG telemetry systems with seizure detection computers, and spike analysis software.
5. Knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals.
6. Ability to adapt Neuro diagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual, and often critical situations.
Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G27 March 17, 2006
This announcement is at the full performance GS-8.
This is an Open and Continuous Announcement (OCA) cut off will be each 6 day of each month until July 8, 2024.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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/.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Resume
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/08/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12299194.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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