Neurology Technician

UPMC • Altoona, PA

14d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a full-time Neurology Technician at UPMC Altoona Hospital and Station Medical Center. The role involves performing and assisting with various neurological tests, including EMG, NCV, EEG, Evoked Potential Testing, and Polysomnography. The technician will be responsible for patient preparation, conducting tests, monitoring patients, documenting results, and ensuring equipment is functioning correctly. The position also includes general office duties such as scheduling and record maintenance. Compliance with infection control procedures and handling of hazardous materials is essential. The technician must be able to respond to medical emergencies and ensure patient safety, including those with special needs.

Requirements

• Current licensure by the Commonwealth of Pa. as a Licensed Practical Nurse or graduate of an EEG / EP school.
• 1 year training in an allied health field would be considered.
• Certification in CPR
• Certification in dysrhythmia course
• 5 years experience performing EEG's (preferred)
• 5 years experience performing polysomnography testing (preferred)
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Nice To Haves

• Ability to score polysomnographic (preferred)
• Strongly encourage registration in Neurology or polysomnography.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and assists with EMG and NCV.
• Administers medication when indicated for proper completion of departmental testing.
• Performs chart review prior to patient testing.
• Prepares patient for testing by explaining test, applying electrodes and assuring patient comfort.
• Performs EEG and Evoke Potential Testing, adjusting patient and/or electrode positioning to obtain quality studies.
• Provides preliminary patient test results to physician or nursing unit.
• Recognizes an emergency and communicates utilizing the critical values list.
• Receives/Records telephone EEG's.
• Communicates with transmitting hospital and provides instruction during telephone EEG.
• Generates appropriate documentation.
• Performs physiological calibrations, verifies patient maneuvers, institutes lights out-, records and monitors collection of patient data.
• Recognizes and records clinical and physiological events, notes and corrects equipment malfunctions.
• Alters patient's environment, monitors and changes patient's body position as needed to obtain the required sleep/wake data.
• Carefully wakes patients and records post test calibrations. Removes electrodes and transducers and assists patient with monitoring care as needed.
• Scores polysomnograms and is able to generate reports summarizing sleep/wake periods, REM episodes, arousal analysis, EEG phenomena, cardiac events, respiratory events, limb movements, and other physiological events according to current guidelines.
• Understands indications, contraindications and adverse effects of nasal continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure (NCPAP and bi-level ventilation) and oxygen administration.
• Applies and titrates therapy based on physician order and established protocols.
• Participates in daily duties in Sleep Clinic.
• Performs general office duties: scheduling patient's, maintains necessary records, proof reading and processing of reports, and completes monthly report as needed.
• Complies with universal infection control procedures.
• Properly disinfects and sterilizes appropriate electrodes, transducers and equipment.
• Appropriately handles hazardous materials according to MSDS.
• Participates in CPI process.
• Checks availability and function of emergency equipment.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to patient's medical problems and physiological events, especially cardiac dysrhythmias, respiratory events and seizures.
• Assures that an adequate clinical history is available to correlate with the neurological study to be performed. Regularly consults with others as necessary to obtain a complete clinical history.
• Is able to safely lift and move patient without harm to patient or self.
• Ensures safety and welfare of all patients, including those pediatric, psychiatric, and geriatric with special needs and any other patients with special needs.
• Demonstrates ability to use reasonable initiative and judgement in applying practice theories of sleep medicine.
• Reviews patient's record in light of protocols for studies ordered and recognizes main sleep/wake complaint.
• Gathers information on patient's history and Bedtime Questionnaire to assess patient's current medications, recent caffeine or alcohol ingestion, current sleep pattern and need for treatment intervention during testing i.e. insulin.
• Contacts ordering physician or ISM medical director to clarify unclear or inappropriate orders and to communicate information about the patient's status.
• Sets up and calibrates monitoring equipment.
• Measures and applies appropriate EEG electrodes using International 10-20 system.
• Applies appropriate EKG (heart), EMG (muscle), and EOG (eye movement) monitoring electrodes.
• Places and securely attaches recording transducers to measure airflow, respiratory effort, oximetry and sometimes transcutaneous CO2.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree