Polysomnographic Technologist

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 is credentialed in sleep technology and able to perform the duties defined for a sleep technician and is able to provide oversight of other sleep center staff.

JOB FUNCTIONS 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). Review the patient's history and verify the medical order. Follow sleep center protocols related to the sleep study. Perform operational checks prior initiating the study and ensure the accuracy and safety of instruments in use during patient recording.

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 out of center sleep testing. Perform routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desentization. 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. 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 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 perform portable monitoring equipment preparation and data download. Demonstrate adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures for portable monitoring devices. Demonstrate adherence to AASM scoring parameters for HSAT; identify artifact, inadequate signals and study failures and generate an accurate report