This position is assigned to the Acute/Specialty care ICC in Neurology and Cardiology Care, located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EEG) at this level are expected to provide independent performance of a full range of procedures. Basic Requirements: 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.) 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. 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: Medical Instrument Technician (Electroencephalography) (1) GS-6 (a) 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: (b) 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. (c) Certification. No certification or registration is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification. (d) Assignment. Operates and monitors EEG equipment in the EEG Lab, intensive care units, operating room, and the patient's bedside. Performs a full range of standard, routine EEG examinations including routine awake and sleep recordings, electrocerebral silence recordings, multiple sleep latency recordings, intraoperative monitoring, electrocorticography. Performs nerve conduction studies using electromyography equipment. Prepares recordings for interpretation and performs a preliminary review and interpretation of the recordings. (2) GS-7 (a) 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 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: (b) 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. (c) Certification. No certification or registration is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. (d) Assignment. At this level, the medical instrument technician (EEG) independently performs routine but complex procedures and has advanced knowledge in certain areas. They are able to deal with difficult or more complex patients. They are able to identify and correct most artifacts. Procedures are fully explained to the patient and family members to set them at ease. Interpretative skills are sufficient to allow identification of more serious conditions requiring rapid intervention. (3) GS-8 (a) 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 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: (b) 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 neurodiagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual, and often critical situations. (c) Certification. No certification or registration is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. (d) Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EEG) at this level are expected to provide independent performance of a full range of procedures. The technician consistently delivers high quality studies for the most complex and non-routine procedures in difficult or demanding environments such as research, intraoperative monitoring, or intensive care monitoring. Procedures are tailored to clinical questions to be answered and may require additional monitors, electrodes, or other devices as clinically indicated. The technician interprets study results and brings to the attention of the physician or supervisor more subtle abnormalities that may require intervention. References: VA Handbook 5005/54, Part 2, Appendix G27. The full performance level of this vacancy is at the GS-8 level. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to the GS-8 level. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The technician consistently delivers high quality studies for the most complex and non-routine procedures in difficult or demanding environments such as research, intraoperative monitoring, or intensive care monitoring. Procedures are tailored to clinical questions to be answered and may require additional monitors, electrodes, or other devices as clinically indicated. EEG Technicians perform, under a physician's direction, diagnostic tests, both invasive and noninvasive, of the pulmonary system (lung) and the cardiovascular system (heart and circulation) and neurologic system. They operate, monitor, and collect data from instruments used in procedures such as cardiac catheterization, angiography, angioplasty, or Neurology procedures (such as continuous video EEG monitoring and EEG testing). The incumbent performs as an expert EEG technologist. He/she maintains state of the art quality in the principles, practices and procedures associated with Electroencephalography. Using state of the art equipment, the incumbent obtains EEGs and evoked potentials on patients with a variety of serious medical and neurological illnesses. All of the testing performed requires on line analysis by the technologist to obtain the necessary data for correct diagnosis of the patient. In all procedures the incumbent works closely with physicians from Neurology Service and the Epilepsy Center of Excellence. The incumbent is able to utilize the sophisticated equipment to obtain continuous video-EEG monitoring in patients with undiagnosed spells. The incumbent will interface with company representatives and will be familiar with new techniques. The incumbent must be able to perform procedures independently but works under the direction of the Director, Epilepsy Center of Excellence or designee. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement: MIT (EEG) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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