Sleep Tech I

Carilion Clinic•Lexington, KY

About The Position

The Sleep Lab Technician I performs sleep studies and related interventions under supervision, develops competency in sleep diagnostics, and supports patient care during testing. The role involves preparing and monitoring in-center and out-of-center sleep studies, collecting and documenting patient and study information, and assisting with scoring and reporting results. The technician provides age-specific care and patient education, follows sleep center protocols, and complies with safety, infection control, privacy, and quality assurance requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
No prior experience required.
Register to obtain BLS certification upon accepting the position and complete the required course or training within 1–3 months of hire, based on class availability.
Enroll in or be enrolled in an accredited sleep technician training program.
Complete required sleep technician education within 6 months of hire; then complete an additional 6 months of on-the-job training or experience to become eligible for the RPSGT/BRPT exam.
Sit for and pass the RPSGT/BRPT exam within 1 year of hire and obtain Polysomnographic Technologist certification.
Obtain required CMEs and apply for a Virginia Board of Medicine license within 18 months of hire; maintain required licensure and credentials throughout employment.
Obtain and maintain AHA BLS-HCP certification within 3 months of hire.
Demonstrate computer skills appropriate to the position.
Demonstrate effective written and spoken communication, social, and customer service skills.
Demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
Demonstrate teamwork, the ability to follow direction, and the ability to provide age-specific care to pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.

Responsibilities

Review patient history and verify medical orders, patient identification, documentation, and consent.
Explain study procedures and orient patients to in-center testing or home sleep apnea testing, including providing appropriate patient education.
Select and calibrate equipment, apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted standards, fit and desensitize patients to PAP interfaces, and perform physiologic calibrations.
Prepare and instruct patients for laboratory and out-of-center sleep testing.
Follow protocols for polysomnography, MSLT, MWT, parasomnia studies, PAP and oxygen titration, and other applicable procedures.
Establish and document baseline values during lights-out procedures and perform data acquisition while monitoring tracing quality.
Identify, correct, and document artifacts and document routine observations, sleep stages, clinical events, procedural changes, and other significant events.
Implement appropriate patient-safety and therapeutic interventions, including PAP and oxygen administration when appropriate.
Complete lights-on procedures, verify collected data, repeat required calibrations, and instruct patients in completing questionnaires.
Assist with scoring sleep/wake stages and clinical events using AASM standards and center-specific protocols, and help generate accurate reports.
Prepare portable monitoring equipment, download data, instruct patients in home sleep apnea testing, and clean and disinfect devices.
Assist with scoring portable monitoring recordings, identifying artifacts, inadequate signals, and study failures, and generating accurate reports.
Comply with applicable safety and infection-control laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards.
Perform routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluations.
Respond to patient questions related to sleep procedures and follow sleep center quality assurance policies.
Maintain professional conduct, patient privacy, and HIPAA compliance.