Position Summary: A Polysomnographic Technologist works under the general supervision of the Sleep Center Supervisor to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services or patient care and advanced patient education. A Polysomnographic Technologist also serves as a resource to physicians for advanced patient issues and compliance coaching and monitoring.
Domains of Practice/ Essential Functions
Gather and Analyze Patient Information
- Collect, analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs (Physical/mental limitations, current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure, pertinent medical/social history), and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
- Complete and verify documentation.
- Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.
Testing Preparation Procedures
- Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.
- Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
- Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments, if necessary.
- Perform routine positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
Polysomnographic Procedures
- Follow procedural protocols as outlined in procedure manual (including Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT),Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT),)to ensure collection of appropriate data.
- Follow "lights out" procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.)
- Perform polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments, if necessary.
- Document routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and other significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
- Implement appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).
- Follow "lights on" procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (e.g. repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.)
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
- Performs advanced and expert fitting for CPAP devices. Able to titrate CPAP/BIPAP/SV to achieve optimum settings without direct supervision.
- Oversees and performs difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions.
Polysomnographic Record Scoring
- Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.
- Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals etc.) according to center specific protocols.
- Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data and submits to the interpreting physician for review and interpretation.
- Participates in Quality Assurance plan by evaluating study acquisitions and performing scoring comparison studies.
- Inputs accurate information into sleep database including ICD codes and patient information.
Service Management and Professional Issues
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control issues.
- Perform routine equipment troubleshooting, care and maintenance and inventory evaluation of equipment, supplies, linen, and food items used in the center.
- Maintain current BCLS certification and required continuing education for profession.
- Has advance knowledge PAP equipment, downloading information, troubleshooting problems, and assisting patients with compliance issues.
- Demonstrates ability to follow direction.
- Respond to study participant’s procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate information.
- Comply with the BRPT Standards of Conduct
- Available to travel and work at any center location.
- Performs all other duties as assigned by supervisor or manager.
Education/Training/Certification:
Certification by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) or equivalent. BCLS certified. Degree and certification in a related allied healthcare preferred.
Experience:
Minimum of 1 year experience working as an RPSGT in an accredited sleep facility. Minimum of 3 months experience scoring sleep studies with 85% correlation to standard. Computer skills using Electronic Medical Records, Microsoft Windows and Office preferred.
Interpersonal Skills:
Relations cooperatively and constructively with patients, family members, physicians, and all members of the healthcare team. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
Essential Technical/Motor Skills/Mental Abilities:
Knowledgeable and competent to perform essential functions. Maturity and the ability to establish good rapport with patients, the public, and staff. Ability to recognize and respond to emergencies quickly. Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex situations and apply policy.
Essential Sensory Requirements:
Ability to visually and audibly perform all essential functions.
Essential Physical Requirements:
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Sufficient mobility and strength to ambulate, position and assist in the transfer of patients to bed.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Minimal exposure to infectious diseases, blood and body fluids, chemical reagents, and potentially hazardous materials.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour
Medical specialties:
Schedule:
- 12 hour shift
- Overnight shift
Work Location: Multiple locations