Supervisory Medical Instrument Technician - Polysomnography

The Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) serves as the supervisory medical technologist in the Sleep Program, oversees the Sleep Lab to ensure it is maintained at an optimal level of performance, scores sleep studies, and works as a technologist in the Sleep Lab as needed.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Supervisory Medical Instrument Technician, under the supervision of the Section Supervisor(s), Division of Sleep Medicine displays proficiency and performs at a level of excellence in all sleep diagnostic and related procedures.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides oversight of the Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT) program to assure it meets all Joint Commission, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and other regulatory bodies' prescribed standards.
• Works with the Sleep Medicine providers, Sleep Technologists and patients to oversee and/or deliver services related to Polysomnography (PSG), positive Airway Titration (PAP) titration studies, Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT), the Multiple Wakefulness Test (MWT), Hypoglossal nerve stimulation Sleep studies, HSAT, the Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Nap clinic, the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) clinic and scoring of sleep studies.
• Monitors functioning of the Sleep Lab, resource monitoring and allocation, supply inventory levels, adherence to infection control guidelines, processing and storage of sleep study reports, and ensuring the Sleep Lab's continued functioning in accordance to the VA, The Joint Commission and legal requirements.
• Verifies correct instrument calibration and operation using established procedures. Identifies the cause of common problems and notifies Biomedical / IT departments when appropriate.
• Obtains technical or factory assistance in order to utilize the equipment to its full potential. Works with Biomed to make sure equipment is working properly.
• Liaise with the logistics department to maintain an inventory of supplies and communicates purchase requests in a timely fashion to avoid disruption of patient care.
• Oversees VA's Somnoware system which integrates Electronic Medical Record system with sleep study software as well as streamlines sleep lab clinical workflow and CPAP treatment monitoring.
• Assists with the CPAP compliance monitoring program by coordinating with Sleep Medicine providers and lead sleep technologist.
• Assists with VA Denver Logistical Center's Remote Order Entry System (ROES) which is a centralized process that streamlines PAP device ordering and shipment.
• Responsible for scoring/overseeing the scoring all PSG tests, both performed in house, and with home-based testing devices.
• Works with patients utilizing home-based testing devices to ensure they understand proper use and maintain high fidelity of studies.
• Performs daytime sleep studies.
• Assesses Quality of Care according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines and assists the Medical Director in maintaining those standards.
• Maintains and updates policies and procedures, including facility SOPs, by liaising with the Sleep lab Medical Director.
• Participates in the development of new procedures and reviews existing procedures, protocols and policies and assist in updating them in accordance with new equipment and clinical practice.
• Trains technicians in the use of procedures and instruments in the Sleep Lab.
• Takes responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of the Sleep Lab, prepares work schedules and assigns duties to subordinates to ensure efficient and timely performance of all in-lab sleep studies.
• Assures that all employees are aware of and abide by the appropriate safety regulations. Provides advice, counsel or instruction to individual employees on both work and administrative matters. Takes appropriate disciplinary actions or rewards as required.
• Ensures activities associated with process improvement, customer service, data driven decision making, and/or team driven change are accomplished.
• Monitoring the CEU credits of sleep techs and their participation in educational and professional development programs including the Inter Scorer Reliability program.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am - 4:30 pm
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc only).
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 688-270124-F

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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. 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.

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:

GS-10: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-9 level, positions at this grade may be supervisory or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments.

Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, 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 the most complex polysomnography technician services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. ( KSA's) KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment.

• 1. Knowledge of the more complex procedures and techniques in the practice of anesthesiology such as extracorporeal blood salvage, washing and return to patient (also known as autotransfusion or cell saving) and arterial and/or venous cannulation for the establishment of arterial pressure monitoring or intravenous fluid/medication delivery.
• *2. Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated treatment and examination program.
• *3. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations.
• *4. Ability to manage the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (which would include fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget.
• *5. Knowledge of and ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluation; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and, when appropriate, disciplinary actions.

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.

Preferred Experience:

• Training and certification as sleep technician.
• Supervisory experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, in addition, Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.