Description

Job Title:  Sleep Study Lab Technician

Department:  Respiratory Therapy / Sleep

Reports To:  Respiratory Therapy / Sleep Director

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

Job Summary

A sleep technologist works under the general supervision of the medical director or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders including in center and out of center sleep testing, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. A sleep technologist can perform the duties defined for a sleep technician and is able to provide oversight of other sleep center staff. The sleep technologist is credentialed in sleep technology.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Follow procedural protocols [such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration etc. to ensure collection of appropriate data.

· Perform appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments.

· Assist with other inpatient and outpatient respiratory services as needed such as education, stocking, scheduling, and other duties as needed.

· Follow “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.)

· Perform data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free. Identify, correct, and document artifact.

· Document routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and other significant events to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.

· Implement appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).

· Follow “lights on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (e.g. repeat the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, checking for completeness, etc.)

· Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.

· Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) utilizing AASM standards.

· Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.

· 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.

· Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to perform portable monitoring equipment preparation and data download.

· Perform patient education and instruction appropriate for out of center sleep testing.

· Demonstrate adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures for portable monitoring devices.

· Demonstrate adherence to AASM scoring parameters for HST; identify artifact, inadequate signals and study failures and generate an accurate report.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

· Successful completion of an accredited educational program leading to a certificate or associate degree with an emphasis in sleep technology or successful completion of a sleep technology program associated with a state licensed and/or a nationally accredited educational facility or equivalent experience and documented proficiency for all competencies required of a sleep technician.

· Certification by a nationally recognized certification board and holds either the Registered Sleep Technologist (RST), Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), or Sleep Disorders Specialist (SDS) credential.

· BLS certifications

Preferred Requirements

· Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution

· 2-5 years Minimum work experience in a Sleep Study Lab or Center 

Physical Requirements

Perceive the nature of sounds by the ear, express or exchange ideas by means of spoken word, perceive characteristics of objects through the eyes, extend arms and hands in any direction, seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise work with hands, pick, pinch, or otherwise work with fingers, perceive such attributes of objects or materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture; and stoop, kneel crouch, and crawl. Must be able to lift 25 pounds maximum with frequent lifting, carrying pushing, and pulling of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Continuous walking and standing. Must be able to identify, match, and distinguish colors.

MMH provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.