Sleep Tech/Polysomnographer Full Time Overnight

Tufts Medicine•New London, CT

2d•$27 - $34•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 experienced level role requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools obtained through work experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Works under moderate supervision, works through problems of a routine nature, but may at times require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures and communicates information that requires some 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. Responsible for documenting and scoring testing accurately in the medical record to comply with the policy and procedures of the department, organization and all other regulatory agency requirements.

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
Two (2) years of experience in a sleep lab.

Nice To Haves

Three (3) 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.
Follows sleep center protocols related to the sleep study.
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 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.
Administers oxygen and nasal continuous airway pressure and employs ventilatory assist devices in accordance with established protocols set forth by the medical director. Such knowledge provides the basis for monitoring polysomnograms and recognizing pathology that requires treatment. The technologist understands the function of equipment used to monitor and record breathing (airflow/effort), electroencephalogram (brain waves), electrocardiograms (heart rate and rhythm), electromyogram (muscle activity), and pulse oximety (blood oxygenation/saturation).
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 special procedures such as multiple sleep latency testing and ambulatory monitoring.
Scores sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) utilizing American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) standards.
Generates accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
Interviews patient to assess current medications, recent caffeine or alcohol ingestion, current sleep patterns, and need for treatment intervention during testing (e.g. medications/special needs).
Performs patient education and instruction appropriate for home sleep apnea testing.
Cleans, disinfects, and follows infection control procedures.
Performs routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation. Inspect and maintain sleep study related equipment and inventory.
Responds to sleep patients’ procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate education utilizing sleep center specific protocols.
Prepares department for joint commission, AASM and other regulatory surveys and participates in CQI activities. Performs other related duties as assigned and/or necessary to assure appropriate patient care
Assists the medical director, clinical director and/or manager in all aspects of sleep center operations.
Performs other related duties as assigned and/or necessary to assure appropriate patient care/department needs, including being cross trained to cover at all positions, in order to maintain consistent coverage/staffing within the department.