Job Abstract

A Polysomnographic Technician, also known as a Sleep Technician, works under the general supervision of a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, the Sleep Medical Director, Sleep Center Manager or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders including in center, inpatient, diagnostic, therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education.

Sleep Study Preparation and Set-up

• Review the patient's history and verify the Medical order.
• Follow Sleep Center protocols related to the Sleep study.
• When a patient arrives, verify identification, collect documents and obtain consent for the study.
• Explain the procedure and orient the patient for either in Center or out of Center Sleep testing.
• Select appropriate equipment and calibrate for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.
• Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted publishing standards.

Position Specific Role Responsibilities

• Follow 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.
• Perform appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments.
• Follow “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.)
• Perform data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free. Identify, correct and document artifact.
• Document 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.
• Assist with appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).
• Follow “lights on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (e.g. repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, and check for completeness, etc.).
• Demonstrate proficiency in recognizing Sleep vs. wake and identify clinical events while monitoring Sleep study patients.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care and treatment, assessment, and education of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent and adult, patients.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to perform portable monitoring equipment preparation and data download.
• Perform patient education and instruction appropriate for out of Center Sleep testing.
• Demonstrate adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures for portable monitoring devices.
• Demonstrate ability to identify artifact, inadequate signals and study failures in portable monitoring.
• Perform routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desensitization.

• Education Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Experience Preferred: Healthcare and/or Pediatric experience a plus