POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECH - ALLIANCE

Position Summary

Polysomnographic Technologist works under the general supervision of the clinical director (M.D., D.O., or PhD) or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services or patient care and education. The Polysomnographic Technologist can perform the duties defined for a Polysomnographic Technician and may provide supervision of other staff.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.

• Satisfactory completion of a polysomnography program of no less than one-year duration OR satisfactory completion of an A-STEP introductory course/final exam with a state licensed and/or nationally accredited educational facility.

• Certified by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologist as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPGST)

• Obtain and maintain current American Heart Association (AHA) training in Basic Life Support (BLS) utilizing Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) is required.

Skills

• Polysomnographic data acquisition and monitoring.

• Electrode and sensor application according to published standards.

• Equipment preparation, calibration, and troubleshooting.

• Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) mask fitting and titration.

• Effective written and verbal communication.

• Ability to function independently and adapt to changing priorities.

• Computer literacy for data entry and report generation. • Collecting and integrating patient information for individualized care.

• Explaining pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures clearly.

• Implementing therapeutic interventions (CPAP, BiPAP, oxygen administration).

• Demonstrates positive interpersonal and social skills.

• Demonstrates flexibility and ability to work with all levels of personnel.

• Demonstrates professional conduct in the clinical setting.

Responsibilities & Expectations

• 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 physiological calibrations to ensure proper signal and make adjustments if necessary.

• Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.

• Polysomnographic Procedures:

• 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.

• 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 significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.

Polysomnographic Technologist:

• Implement appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic interventions such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).

• Follow “light on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.).

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.

• 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

• Service Management and Professional Issues:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards regarding safety and infection control issues.

• Perform routine and complex equipment care and maintenance.

• Evaluate sleep study related equipment and inventory.

• Demonstrate effective written and spoken communication skills.

• Demonstrate appropriate social skills.

• Respond to study participant’s procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate information.

• Comply with the BRPT Standards of Conduct.

• Serve effectively as a preceptor as assigned.

Department Responsibilities & Expectations

• Health Caring Standards / Values:

• Greet customers, visitors, and Colleagues immediately with a smile, warm greeting, and introduction, calling them by name if possible.

• Exceed the expected and anticipate the unexpected by asking, “Is there anything else I or a fellow Colleague can do for you?”.

• Always provide a comforting, timely, caring departure or discharge, and always say thanks for allowing us to serve.

• Integrity, openness and fairness in all you do. • Teamwork.

• Pride in the Department.

• Individual creativity and Innovation.

• Compassion and caring.

• Maintain department and hospital standards and policies.

Working Conditions

• Normally works twelve-hour nights, may rotate to day shift, and assist to meet the patient’s needs.

• Lunch and break periods must be coordinated with other staff members to maintain adequate office staffing during departmental operating hours.

• Subject to frequent interruptions and changes in priority of duties throughout the shift.

• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust to focus.

• Will work under the direction of the Physician.

• Expected to adhere to policies and procedures.

• Works with highly confidential data and situations; maintain HIPPA.

Department Working Conditions

• Shifts will occur Monday- Saturday nights 6:30pm-7:00am; with a weekend rotation.