Polysomnography Technologist - Center for Sleep Medicine - Per Diem

Tufts Medicine•Melrose, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role focuses on assessing the needs of patients who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities and delivering therapy services to improve their developmental, physical or cognitive impairment. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Sleep Therapy duties: Evaluates patients and helps them improve physical and mental conditions through treating a variety of sleep-related conditions. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An entry-level role typically requiring little to no prior knowledge or experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Work is routine or follows standard procedures, is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation. Under the direction of medical supervision, this position provides evaluations and treatments of sleep disorders including in center, overnight polysomnograms and home sleep testing, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. This individual functions independently to safely operate sophisticated medical equipment to record sleep/wake physiology.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Successful completion of a sleep technology program.
Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), or eligible for RPSGT or Registered Sleep Technologist (RST), or Certified Polysomnographic Technologist.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Ability to integrate basic understanding of anatomy and physiology with sleep/wake pathology.
Broad knowledge of all polysomnographic procedures as performed in the Sleep Center.
Ability to apply professional judgment to attain optimal technical results.
Ability to understand indications, contraindications and adverse effects of nasal continuous and bi-level positive pressure and oxygen administration.
Understanding of the equipment used to monitor and record breathing (airflow/effort), electroencephalogram (brain waves), electrocardiogram (heart rate and rhythm), electromyogram (muscle activity), and pulse oximetry (blood oxygenation/saturation).
Knowledge of special procedures such as multiple sleep latency testing, maintenance of wakefulness and ambulatory monitoring is necessary.
Available to perform in-house, portable studies on patients unable to come to the Sleep Center.
Attention to detail is required for ensuring patient education, safety, comfort as well as discussing clinical situations with physicians
Know when to consult the physician regarding patient’s care and must react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
Occasional sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, frequent standing, walking & transferring of patients. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Required to sit and carefully monitor polysomnograms and patients for several continuous hours.
Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate computer keyboard, dexterity to provide testing and treatment techniques to a wide variety of patients.
Requires ability to see computer screen and reports. Visually and audibly assess patient and environment and assess patient subjective complaints.

Nice To Haves

Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) or Registered Sleep Technologist (RST).
Two (2) years of experience in a sleep lab.

Responsibilities

Collects, analyzes, and integrates 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).
Determines final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or medical director and sleep center protocols.
Reviews the patient’s history and verify medical orders.
When patient arrives, verifies identification, collects documents and obtains consent for the study.
Explains the procedure and orient the patient for either in center or home sleep apnea testing using age appropriate patient education.
Selects appropriate equipment and calibrate for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.
Applies electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
Performs routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desensitization.
Follows procedural protocols [such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP and oxygen titration, etc.] to ensure collection of appropriate data.
Performs appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments.
Follows “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.).
Performs data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free. Identify, correct and document artifact.
Documents 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.
Implements appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).
Follows “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.).
Performs patient education and instruction appropriate for home sleep apnea testing.
Demonstrates adherence to cleaning, disinfection and infection control procedures.
Complies with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control issues. Adhere to sleep center policies and procedures. Comply with professional standards of conduct.
Performs routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation. Inspect and maintain sleep study related equipment and inventory.