Primary Purpose

Under the direction of the Ambulatory Manager and Medical Director, provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment procedures within the realm of the Sleep Lab.  This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services, patient care and education. 

Major Responsibilities 

Understands and satisfies the needs of the neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school-age, adolescent and/or adult patient and families in regards to their growth and development process. Evaluates and identifies needs prior to and during testing and initiates appropriate action.

Safely initiates, performs and maintains competency in the following areas: Diagnostics such as Polysomnograms, Cardio-pulmonary tracings, and esophageal pressure and pH monitoring, initiation and titration of continuous and bi-level pressure support, monitors, documentation/billing, artifact recognition and correction and patient/family education.

Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary. 

Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments if necessary.

Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.

Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient and family.

Downloads, analyzes and records pertinent data.  Documents routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.  Conveys findings to physicians.

Scores polysomnograms in concordance with lab standards in preparation for interpretation by sleep physician.  Communicates results to physicians as necessary. 

Cleans (where applicable) and assembles sleep lab equipment according to protocol.  Ensures departmental equipment is maintained according to manufacturers’ and other regulatory agency specifications and utilizes resources appropriately.

Identifies and analyzes problems related to patient condition and sleep lab testing, and implements solutions where appropriate. Perform routine and complex equipment care and maintenance. Recommends and/or implements appropriate modifications in equipment or procedure based on observation.   Consults with physician as necessary.

Communicates effectively and demonstrates superior knowledge of sleep lab procedures so as to act as a resource to physicians, and the interdisciplinary health care team. Collaborates with physicians/sleep lab coordinator in regard to testing needs of patient, test results and turnaround time.

Assists with maintaining inventory and supplies within the sleep lab.   Collaborates with the management team to maintain expenses within budget.

Assists updating the sleep center database for the patients undergoing sleep studies, inclusive of test results, demographic, social and clinical information.

Assists in developing teaching tools and incorporates teaching into daily cares while maintaining team concept.

Takes on the role of relief charge technologist at night making decision as needed and communicating with team, families and patients. 

Conducts team huddles at the start of the shift with all techs communicating specific instruction for patients.

Participates in quality assurance program as per department needs including inter scorer reliability of sleep studies. 

Keeps current regarding Polysomnographic trends and developments.   Membership in professional associations is encouraged.

Participates in staff meetings, committees and other projects per department needs.

Acts as a team member by identifying personal, departmental and hospital goals.  Communicates and collaborates in a positive, effective manner towards the successful attainment of these goals by offering input, ideas and solutions utilizing the CHW Quality improvement (PDSA) model.  Is aware of departmental QI initiatives and participates as appropriate.

Maintains departmental responsibilities by attending educational offerings, departmental and hospital interdisciplinary meetings and accurately billing for sleep lab modalities.

Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.  Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures.  Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Minimum Job Requirements

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification

Current CPR certification – Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers through American Heart or American Red Cross. 

Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (BRPT) or 

Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) certification issued by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), or

Registered Respiratory Therapist – Sleep Disorders Specialty (RRT-SDS) certification issued by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).
 

Education

Advanced training beyond High School that includes the completion of an accredited or approved program.

Experience

Typically requires 2 years of experience in a polysomnographic technician role. 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect Children’s values and support our mission and vision. 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Provides services in a setting where there is potential for exposure to blood and other high risk body fluids, chemotherapy agents, communicable disease and hazardous materials, chemicals, and waste.

Able to work flexible hours to meet patient and department needs.

Ability to sit and carefully monitor patients and polysomnograms for several continuous hours.

Ability to maintain vigilance in a quiet, sometimes dimly lit environment.

Ability to push or pull equipment up to 170 lbs.

Ability to lift equipment/supplies up to 25 lbs.

Ability to lift and move neonatal through adult patient populations.

Ability to assemble complex equipment and perform fine motor skills.

Frequently bends, lifts, twists, reaches and squats.

Occasionally push/pulls and does overhead work.

Preferred Job Requirements

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification

Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) registration issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (BRPT) or 

Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) certification issued by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), or

Registered Respiratory Therapist – Sleep Disorders Specialty (RRT-SDS) certification issued by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Current CPR certification – Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers through American Heart or American Red Cross.

Education

Advanced training beyond high school that includes completion of an accredited or approved program. 

Experience

Typically requires 2 years of experience in a polysomnographic technician role. 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Basic computer skills. 

Analytical skills necessary to resolve complex clinical problems relating to the integration of anatomy and physiology to sleep/wake pathology and patient safety and welfare. 

Possess adequate time management skills.

Interpersonal and communication skills sufficient to interact with interdisciplinary health team members and consumers. 

DISCLAIMER

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position.  Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their leaders.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.