Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) Fee Basis

Summary The Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) position is located at The Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Healthcare System (GLAVAHS). Learn more about this agency Duties The duties include but are not limited to: Polysomnography (PSG) Scorer reviews and interprets the raw data from a sleep study (polysomnogram) in 30-second increments called "epochs". Apply American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines to classify sleep stages, detect abnormal breathing events, and identify other sleep-related abnormalities. Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form. Core Responsibilities of a PSG Scorer: Data Analysis: Reviewing approximately 1,000 pages (epochs) of data per study. Quality Control: Troubleshooting artifacts (non-sleep activity) to determine if they are actual events or just movement. Report Generation: Compiling the scored data into a comprehensive report for a sleep physician to create a diagnosis and treatment plan. Adherence to Guidelines: Using AASM guidelines, such as defining apnea as a 50% or more decrease in airflow for at least 10 seconds with a 3% or 4% oxygen drop. Scoring consists of two passes through the data to define specific metrics: Sleep Stages: Each 30-second epoch is classified as Wake, NREM Stage N1, N2, N3 (deep sleep), or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep by evaluating brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), and chin muscle tone (EMG). Respiratory Events: The scorer identifies and tallies abnormal breathing, including: Apnea: A complete or near-complete cessation of airflow lasting at least 10 seconds. Hypopnea: A partial reduction in airflow followed by an arousal or a drop in oxygen levels. Arousals: Sudden shifts in brain wave activity indicating brief interruptions in sleep. Leg Movements: Identification of periodic leg movements (PLMD), which may cause sleep fragmentation. Heart Rhythm: Analysis of electrocardiogram (EKG) for cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Oxygen Saturation: The level of oxygen in the blood, identifying times of desaturation (drops) 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. 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. Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. 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. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship: US. Citizenship required. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable with the possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable. For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which doesn't result in official certification does not meet this definition. English Proficiency: Proficient in English (written and spoken) is required for patient care positions Preferred Certification: Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), Sleep Disorders Specialty (SDS), Registered Sleep Technologists (RST), or Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications are also highly preferable for employees at this level. Required 1 year Experience: Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices. Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals. Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy. Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations. 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. Physical Requirements: See VHA Handbook 5019 Education There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation, Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits There are no health or retirement benefits associated with this type of position.