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
English Language: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a of the qualification standards
Licensure/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
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)
Grade Determinations:
GS4 Experience/Education: Have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic & therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level.
OR
Successfully completed two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.
GS4 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
- Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, & settings of the equipment to be used.
- Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.
- Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
GS5 Experience/Education: Have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS4 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
OR
Successfully completed 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
GS5 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
- Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
- Ability to learn the normal & abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
- Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
- Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine
GS6 Experience: Have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS5 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled.
GS6 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters
- Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, & laboratory computers including the ability to calibrate and operate the equipment and recognize and eliminate recording artifacts
- Knowledge of medical terminology & medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc
- Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSL T, MWT, PAP, etc.)
- Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology & the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies.
GS7 Experience: Have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS6 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, & abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations
GS7 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of CPAP function & operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices
- Ability to independently titrate & document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals
- Knowledge of indications, complications, & contraindications of CPAP therapy
- Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations
- Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing & identify all stages of sleep. This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings
GS8 Experience: Have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the GS7 grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics related to the duties of the position 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
GS8 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders & the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
- Ability to summarize & report polysomnographic data in narrative form
- Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) & ability to take appropriate action
- Ability to provide briefings & orientation to hospital staff including physicians
Certification: No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) & Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.
Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnographic technologist certification
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Incumbent exercises physical effort in the performance of duties-continually standing, bending, walking, stooping, frequently pushing & pulling patients stretchers & mobile imaging equipment, occasionally lift & carry items weighing up to thirty pounds. Position also requires operation of the computer keyboard which requires frequent involvement (flexion and extension) of both wrists. Positioning patients who are unconscious or disabled requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions. Heavy lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees. Eyestrain may be encountered. Work is performed in areas having adequate heating & cooling & is exposed to disagreeable odors & minor injuries. Portable examinations may be required, which entail transporting equipment to bedside & examining the patient on the ward.