Sleep Therapy Technician - Per Diem (Scorer for Sleep Studies)

About the role

Tufts Medicine - Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford, MA is seeking a per diem Sleep Therapy Technician to join their team. This candidate will be a scorer for Sleep Studies. Experience with Scoring for sleep studies is HIGHLY PREFERRED!

Responsibilities

• Collects, analyzes and integrates patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Inspects and maintains 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.
• Aids 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience in a sleep lab.
• Experience with Scoring for sleep studies HIGHLY PREFERRED.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to integrate basic understanding of anatomy and physiology with sleep/wake pathology.
• Broad knowledge of all polysomnographic procedures as performed in the Sleep Center.
• Ability to apply professional judgment to attain optimal technical results.
• Ability to understand indications, contraindications and adverse effects of nasal continuous and bi-level positive pressure and oxygen administration.
• Understanding of the equipment used to monitor and record breathing (airflow/effort), electroencephalogram (brain waves), electrocardiogram (heart rate and rhythm), electromyogram (muscle activity), and pulse oximetry (blood oxygenation/saturation).
• Knowledge of special procedures such as multiple sleep latency testing, maintenance of wakefulness and ambulatory monitoring is necessary.
• Available to perform in-house, portable studies on patients unable to come to the Sleep Center.
• Attention to detail is required for ensuring patient education, safety, comfort as well as discussing clinical situations with physicians.
• Know when to consult the physician regarding patient’s care and must react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.