Polysomnographic Technologist -- SLEEP LAB -- Grafton City Hospital

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 home sleep apnea testing; diagnostic and therapeutic interventions; comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. Technologists, technicians, and trainees work under the direct supervision of the credentialed sleep technologist or the medical director and will perform all department functions including: Patient Scheduling & Pre-authorizations; PSG testing; CPAP Titrations; MSLT studies; MWT studies; Day Studies; Split Night studies; Scoring; and assisting with department quality assurance & performance improvement programs

Responsibilities

People and Culture
Promote hospital and department policies and procedures. Conveys information to provider; obtains and reviews orders; seeks provider input as needed. Protects patient rights to privacy and confidentiality. Utilize effective communication skills in interactions with patients, families, and other members of the health care team. Obtain pertinent data in an objective and professional manner. Consistently communicate in a manner that demonstrates a positive and cooperative attitude. Provide health education to the patient as directed by provider/lead technologist/manager. Demonstrate critical thinking and ability to work with minimal supervision to analyze complex situations and apply policy. Respond to sleep patients’ procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate education utilizing sleep lab specific protocols/policy.

Integration and Efficiency
Performs clerical duties such as but not limited to answering phone, scanning, referrals, obtaining/ completing paperwork, filing, making appointments, registering patients, returning phone calls, etc. Uses the computer and telephone to communicate effectively and accurately document medical and demographic 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). Determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or medical director and sleep lab protocols. Review the patient’s history and verify the medical order. Follow sleep center protocols related to the sleep study. When patient arrives, verify identification, collect documents and obtain consent for the study. Explain the procedure and orient the patient for either in center or home sleep apnea testing. Provide age appropriate patient education. Select appropriate equipment and calibrate for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary. Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards. Perform routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desensitization.

Financial Vitality
Places orders for clinical supplies. Restocks shelves and manages inventory. Assures sufficient and appropriate stock of supplies. Assures complete and accurate documentation of performed procedures and/or tests. Assures complete and accurate documentation of patient charges in hospital’s EMR. Assists department manager achieve departmental operational objectives. Assist the medical director, lead technologist, and manager in all aspects of sleep lab operations.

Quality and Safety
Accepts direction and instruction from the provider/lead technologist/manager on staff. Collects, records, and maintains patient information, vitals, patient history, and other documentation. Follows proper protocol for all medical procedures and use of equipment. Confer with appropriate Provider/Lead Technologist regarding the scheduling of patient tests, appointments, printing of needed forms and obtaining records from other sources. Provides follow-up with ordered tests/results and relays appropriate information to the provider/patients as instructed. Follow procedural protocols such as PSG testing; PAP and oxygen titration; Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, Day Studies; Split Night studies; and Scoring to ensure collection of appropriate data. Perform appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments. 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 in-order-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 instruct 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 American Academy of Sleep Medicine (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 home sleep apnea testing. Demonstrate adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures. Monitor patient safety and adhere to patient safety protocols. Demonstrate adherence to AASM scoring parameters; identify artifact, inadequate signals and equipment failures and generate an accurate report. Maintains sanitary and aseptic environment to promote optimum patient infection control. Perform routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation. Participate in the department quality assurance program.

Growth and Development
Participate in continuing education activities and provided in-services. Attend department staff meetings as required by manager/lead technologist. Maintain current knowledge/certification/licensure in present practice area. Review and evaluate sleep studies and provide appropriate feedback.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Required: Minimum 1-year of experience working in a Sleep Lab, Sleep Clinic, and/or Sleep Center.Preferred:> Two years of experience working in a Sleep Lab, Sleep Clinic, and/or Sleep Center.

Education

• Associate's Degree (Required)

Credentials

Work Schedule: Varies

Status: PRN

Location: Grafton City Hospital

Location of Job: WV:Grafton:Grafton City Hospital

Talent Acquisition Specialist: Beth A. Isner beth.isner@vandaliahealth.org