Registered Polysomnography Technician

BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Performs Polysomnography Technician duties proficiently. Duties may include attaching monitoring equipment to patients, observing and accurately documenting recordings, participating in patient/family education and orientation to the sleep center and various procedures. Ensures safety throughout a patient’s stay.

REPORTS TO

• Manager - Sleep center

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Supervisory Responsibilities: NO

Minimum Education: associate degree

Degree: Successful completion of an accredited educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis in Polysomnography OR successful completion of a polysomnography program of no less than 1 year duration associated with a state licensed and/or a nationally accredited educational facility or equivalent experience and documented proficiency at all competencies required of Polysomnographic Technician.

License/Certification Required: Must hold credentials from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) preferred and/or certification by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) as a Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) or equivalent. Required to maintain CPR or BLS certification

Minimum Work Experience: Previous experience in pediatric sleep medicine preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates good, appropriate interpersonal skills.
• 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.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• In the performance of this job, the employee may be exposed to chemical vapors such as acetone, ether, or glutaraldehyde.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Correctly gathers and analyzes patient information: Collects, analyzes and integrates patient information in order to identify and meet patient-specific needs including 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. Completes and verifies documentation. Ensures required documentation is complete, accurate, and accomplished in a timely manner. Correctly explains pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to each patient and/or family.
• Performs all testing preparation procedures correctly, following all departmental policies and standards: Prepares and calibrates equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning before each procedure and makes adjustments, if necessary. Applies electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards. Performs appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and makes adjustments if necessary. Performs positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
• Ensures accurate and complete: Consistently follows 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. Accurately follows “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.) Accurately follows “lights on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and completes the data collection process (repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.) Performs Polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and makes adjustments, if necessary. Accurately documents routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results. Implements appropriate and timely interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc). Demonstrates 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.
• Polysomnographic record scoring: Scores sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Scores clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals etc.) according to center specific protocols. Generates accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
• Demonstrates the ability to analyze complex situations and apply policy as necessary.
• Complies with the ABSM Standards of Conduct at all times, ensuring a professional environment of care.
• Actively participates in quality efforts and seeks new opportunities to increase quality
• Performs routine and complex equipment care and maintenance following all appropriate and applicable procedures.
• Evaluates sleep study related equipment and inventory to ensure adequate operations and needs are met.
• Complies with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control issues.
• Willingly accepts any other assignment that may be requested.
• Utilizes hospital resources and time respectfully and accountably.
• Ensures that cost-effectiveness and quality are taken into account when making decisions in regards to utilizing department resources.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to reducing waste
• Considers the impact on other departments and facilities within Children’s Hospital when making decisions or taking action

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
• Light lifting, pushing and pulling is required for 10-20 lbs occasionally and frequent moving of objects of less than 10 lbs is required. Frequent sitting with some walking, standing, squatting, bending and reaching is required. Keyboard/computer use and/or repetitive motions may be required. 

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