Summary The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) Electroencephalography (EEG) will provide a full range of neurodiagnostic duties for the New Jersey Health Care System located at the East Orange VA medical center in East Orange, New Jersey (VISN 2). The technician will work directly with the Neurology Service Chief following JCAHO standards. Responsibilities Major Duties include: -Independently performs routine and non-standard procedures. (EEG, LTM and NCV/EMG) These include: Awake, Sleep, Portable, ECS, Ambulatory EEG - Independently performs routine and extended long-term monitoring. (LTM) These include: Extended 10/20 and 10/10 electrode placement - Consistently performs high quality studies for the most complex and non-routine procedures in difficult and demanding environments such as the emergency department or intensive care environments. - Follows established laboratory and/or hospital guidelines in completing "administrative duties" for each test performed. - Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.- Partly responsible for inventory of laboratory supplies. Equipment: - Independently operates a variety of neurodiagnostic equipment to administer routine and specialized diagnostic treatment during procedures. - Conducts routine maintenance and adjustment checks on the equipment. - Recognizes and trouble shoot equipment failures. - Communicates with manufacturer technical support to fix equipment problems. Medical Terminology, Disease and Anatomy: - Understands more advanced medical terminology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuroradiology and how it relates to the neurodiagnostic testing being performed. - Knowledge of acute neurologic disorders and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. - Familiar with antiepileptic and other medication (neuropharmacology) effect on neurodiagnostic studies. Testing: - Able to deal with more complex or difficult patients. - Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for medical staff during testing procedures. - 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. - Utilizes the 10/20 and 10/10 method of electrode application during EEG's. - Follows established laboratory protocol in performing standard and specialized EEG, IOM, NCV, EP's, and LTM's. - Obtains written permission to perform audio and video during the procedures. - Performs routine and specialized activation procedures during the EEG's and knows the contraindications to performing the activations. - Recognizes the various biologic and non-biologic (artifacts) EEG and NCV/EMG waveforms. - Makes changes in recording techniques and parameters and utilizes additional monitors, electrodes, or other devices to optimize display of the clinical question. -Recognizes clinical manifestations of various types of epileptic and non-epileptic seizures as they occur and utilizes established laboratory guidelines to perform cognitive testing of patient during event. - Ensures adequacy of EEG recording during seizure discharges. - Utilizes video EEG telemetry system with seizure and spike detection software. - Uses equipment specific processing software to execute several automation functions such as storing, retrieving, and transferring, electronic documents and files. - Ability to interface and adapt neurodiagnostic testing equipment, settings, and procedures to unusual, complex, and often critical situations. - Recognizes life threatening or medically emergent patient situations and will take proper action to provide emergent care. Patient Safety: - Understands the typical patient reaction to the neurodiagnostic procedure being performed and know signs of patient distress. - Understands electrical safety and recognize unsafe recording equipment and environments. - Performs the proper corrective actions to ensure an electrically safe recording often in hostile environments such as the emergency department or intensive care areas. Communications: - Interacts with other healthcare professionals to discuss the indications, value, possible outcomes, and limitations of testing. - Communicates both orally and in writing with patients, visitors, non-healthcare and a variety of healthcare professionals. Clerical functions: -Schedules patients for procedures. -Schedule's outpatient clinic appointment using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) scheduling options. Complies with the mandatory training requirements for the outpatient scheduling process. - Sends procedure specific instruction letters for scheduled appointments. - Answers department phone, returns patient calls, and transfers calls as needed. - Maintains a daily log of patients and procedures. Completes proper electronic and written information for each procedure performed. Additional duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday:8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:13046F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment RESUME REQUIREMENTS - Your resume MUST include the following information: Job Title (for each position) Description of duties (be as detailed as possible) Month and year start/end dates (e.g. June 2018 to April 2020) of employment Full-time or part-time status (include average hours worked per week) 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 trial period. 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. 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). Qualifications 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 Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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. 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) GS-8 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 pharma- cology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. Your experience must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 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. Preferred Experience: Graduate of Neurophysiology technical school- Associate degree or equivalent. Certification by ABRET or equivalent- R.EEG T. is desired. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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.