Job Information
UPMC Senior Sleep Technologist in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Purpose:
A senior sleep technologist works under the direct supervision of the lead technologist in partnership with the medical director or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders including in center and out of center sleep testing, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. A senior sleep technologist is able to perform the duties defined for a sleep technologist and as a result of an expanded list of responsibilities is able to provide oversight, to other sleep center staff. The senior sleep technologist is credentialed in sleep technology.
Responsibilities:
Sleep lab oversight.
Provide assistance for research projects as needed.
Assist with training and provide mentorship to all sleep technologists.
Responsible for the overall inventory of supplies and linen at the sleep center.
Ensure proper communication and documentation is complete for any staffing, equipment, provider, or patient issues including emergency responses during shift.
Must attend scheduled leadership and staff meetings.
Sleep Study Preparation
Collect, analyze and integrate 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).
Determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
Review the patient's history and verify the medical order.
Follow sleep center protocols related to the sleep study.
When patient arrives, verify identification, collect documents and obtain consent for the study.
Must demonstrate skills to assign patients to appropriate staff based on demonstrated competency skills.
Sleep Study Set-up.
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.
When/if equipment fails or malfunctions, attempt to trouble shoot problem by replacing damaged equipment or parts and oversee repairs.
Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted sleep center protocols.
Sleep Study Procedures.
Perform routine sleep procedures according to protocol i.e diagnostics tests, mslt, home sleep testing and positive airway pressure (PAP) titrations to include interface fitting and desensitization.
Must demonstrate skills to perform advanced modes of therapy.
Perform appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments.
Follow 'lights out' procedures to establish and document baseline values.? Perform data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free.
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.
Implement 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. repeat the physiological and instrument calibrations and instruct the patient on completing questionnaires, checking for completeness, etc.)
Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines during scheduled shift.
Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) utilizing AASM standards.
Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
Demonstrate adherence to cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Service Management and Essential Skills.
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control issues.
Follow HIPAA policies to maintain the privacy and security of patient information.? Perform routine equipment care, maintenance and inventory count and order supplies as needed.
Demonstrate effective communication via written, verbal and computer skills appropriate for the position.
Must have customer service skills and critical thinking to respond to sleep patients' procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate information and education.
Ability to step in and provide service recovery or additional support as needed.
Must demonstrate scoring competency each month by passing grade on the AASM ISR
Must attend scheduled staff meetings and complete any requested educational training in scheduled time frame.
*Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
*Performs other duties as assigned.
Graduate from an education program in polysomnography accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) preferred.
Sleep credential from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (CPSGT orRPSGT), the American Board of Sleep Medicine (RST) or the National Board of Respiratory Care (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS) required.
Three years polysomnography experience required.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Sleep credential from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT), the American Board of Sleep Medicine (RST) or the National Board of Respiratory Care (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS) required.
CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT) OR Registered Polysomnographic Technologist OR Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran