Summary

Full-time day technician based at Mather - CA clinic in the Sleep Section of the Northern California VA Neurology Department. The duties encompass a wide range of clinical - technical - and clerical tasks - including home sleep tests - sleep study scoring - PAP setup & management - DME - and use of telemedicine when needed. S/he serves under the direction of the supervisory tech & section chiefs. RPSGT certification preferred.

Duties

• The incumbent will perform all duties and procedures in maintaining an effective Sleep Clinic including working closely with patients and families - physicians - techs - and other departments as needed
• Specifically - the incumbent performs the following: Portable Sleep Apnea Study
• Setting up patient with monitors to record multiple respiration parameters for diagnosing sleep apnea with nasal and oral airflow - respiratory effort - body position - oximetry - and snoring
• Validate recording succeeded
• Download and electronically transfer for scoring and processing
• Scan results documents into patient chart
• Educate patients and caregivers about sleep-disordered breathing and how portable sleep studies can identify sleep apnea Scoring: The technician will score portable and/or attended polysomnography sleep studies prior to specialist review
• and alert specialist of critical findings
• Creates sleep study report for specialist's review
• Scan results documents into patient chart
• Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) portable titration
• This includes selecting and fitting patient with appropriate interface devices
• Demonstrate how to use masks and equipment to assure appropriate function
• Instructs patients and their significant other or caregiver in PAP set-ups for overnight portable sleep testing - ensure full understanding of the procedure and function of PAP unit
• Provides patient supplies including filters - hoses - masks - chinstraps - and headgear for home PAP testing
• Able to identify indications - complications - and contraindications of PAP therapy
• Able to complete titration with interface between sleep recorder and PAP for extensive titration
• Able to interface PAP with home oximetry monitor for follow-up evaluation of efficacy
• Receives posttest PAP units and downloads sleep data via smartcard - submit to licensed Sleep provider for review
• Create electronic chart note that documents a summary of posttest download data for specialist review
• CPAP/ DME Clinic
• Able to independently program - set-up and adjust settings on PAP equipment based on prescription - working with a variety of brands and types of PAP (CPAP - BiPAP - ASV - AVAPS and others)
• Demonstrate to patient how to use - clean - and maintain masks and equipment to assure proper function and extended use
• Troubleshoot machine and/or mask to determine patient barriers to use and correct them
• Downloads data and creates electronic chart documentation of download results
• Takes appropriate immediate action based on download results including correcting leaks and minor pressure adjustments
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm (PST) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Remote: This is not a remote position
• Position Description/PD#: 612-05399F (6) - 612-05400F (7) - 612-05401F (8) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required