Sleep Technician

Sleep Technician

The Sleep Technician is responsible for providing comprehensive evaluations and treatment of sleep disorders, and performing polysomnographic testing and analysis, with associated interventions.

Job Description

• Collect, analyze, and integrate patient information to identify and meet patient-specific needs (physical/mental limitations, current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure, pertinent medical/social history) and determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical supervisor and laboratory protocols.
• Complete and verify documentation.
• Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.
• Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary.
• Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
• Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments if necessary.
• Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
• Follow procedural protocols such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test, Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration, etc., to ensure collection of appropriate data.
• Follow "lights out" procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxygen hemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.).
• Perform polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-racing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments if necessary.
• Document routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
• Implement appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).
• Follow "lights on" procedures to verify the integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.).
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age-specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Oversee and perform difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions.
• Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.
• Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) according to center-specific protocols.
• Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
• Comply with the Springfield Clinic incident reporting policy and procedures.
• Adhere to all OSHA and Springfield Clinic training & accomplishments as required per policy.
• Provide excellent customer service and adhere to SC Way customer service philosophy.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must actively pursue sleep A-Step program in order to take Registry Boards to become Registered in Polysomnography within 18 months of participation in the A-step program.
• Must possess one of the following:
  • RRT/CRT-Respiratory Care license in Illinois
  • LPN or RN with active Illinois license
  • EEG Tech-board certified or eligible, with two (2) years experience in a related field
  • Successful completion of an accredited program leading to A.D., with emphasis in Polysomnography program with accreditation facility
• Must attain and maintain ten (10) continuing education units annually that pertain to sleep medicine.
• CPR certification per American Heart Association guidelines required within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to push/pull or transport objects weighing more than 100 lbs.
• Ability to work in a limited space and stand for 25 to 50% of shift.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand motions such as typing and calibrations of equipment.