Daytime Polysomnographic Technician & Scorer

Mohawk Valley Health System•City of Utica, NY

13d•$24 - $41

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Sleep Disorders Center Technical Director, the Daytime Polysomnographic Technician & Scorer conducts studies and safely monitors clinical patients ranging in age from adolescence to geriatric. Evaluations may address any of 150 different sleep/wake disorders; commonly encountered conditions include sleep apnea, narcolepsy, night terrors, nocturnal myoclonus, and clinical insomnia.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited training program in Respiratory Therapy; or training in a related allied health field with enrollment in or completion of the A-STEP Online Self Study Modules, a CAAHEP-accredited sleep technology training program, an electroneurodiagnostic (END) program, or a respiratory therapy add-on track for sleep technology.
Two years of experience with patients, laboratory studies, or a closely related field, or equivalent.
New York State licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner with registration by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC), or New York State licensure as a Polysomnographic Technologist.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in biological, physical, or medical sciences.

Responsibilities

Review the patient’s chart and requisition before greeting the patient.
Listen to telephone messages and read the intradepartmental communication journal.
Respond promptly to fill cancellations or vacancies from the patient waiting list.
Interview patients about their specific needs, including sleep positions, self-medication, and allergies to tape or preparation solutions.
Measure and apply electrodes competently according to the International Ten-Twenty method.
Calibrate all instruments according to departmental policies and procedures.
Apply ECG, EOG, and EMG electrodes according to departmental policies and procedures.
Place and securely attach recording devices to measure airflow, nasal pressure, respiratory effort, and pulse oximetry.
Perform impedance measurements on all EEG and EMG electrodes to ensure readings are below 5000 ohms.
Perform patient biocalibrations according to the department procedure manual.
Begin recordings with accurate demographic information and troubleshoot as needed.
Identify characteristics comprising each stage of sleep.
Continuously monitor patients to ensure safe, proper recordings and thoroughly document all aspects of care.
Note and correct equipment malfunctions or sensor displacement or failures, and report problems and needs in the correspondence journal.
Respond to patient needs.
Adjust the patient’s environment to obtain the required sleep/wake data and encourage repositioning when necessary.
Carefully awaken patients and record post-test calibrations.
Remove electrodes and devices and assist patients as needed.
Complete an electronic technologist report summarizing all-night recordings and ensure patient forms and tracking logs are accurately completed, signed, and scanned.
Navigate the EHR and enter patient data, including vital signs, medications, and allergies, for Meaningful Use.
Recognize and respond appropriately to patient medical problems and physiological events, especially cardiac dysrhythmias, respiratory events, and seizures.