Sleep Technician

Sleep (Polysomnographic) Technician

Position Summary

A sleep technician performs comprehensive sleep testing and analysis, and associated

interventions under the general supervision of THE Sleep Center Technical Director and/or the Medical

Director or designee. A sleep technician will provide training and supervision of a sleep trainee.

Domains of Practice

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 patients arrive, 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 published standards.

● Perform routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desentization.

PROCEDURES

● 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 artifacts.

● 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.).

● Assist with scoring sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted

guidelines.

● Assist with scoring clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb

movements, arousals, etc.) utilizing AASM standards.

● Assist with the generation of accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical

event data.

● 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.

● 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.

● Assist with scoring portable monitoring recordings according to AASM scoring

parameters; identify artifacts, inadequate signals and study failures and generate an

accurate report.

SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

● Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding

safety and infection control issues.

● Perform routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation.

● Maintain current CPR or BCLS certification.

● Demonstrate computer skills appropriate for the position.

● Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.

● Demonstrate appropriate social skills.

● Demonstrate customer service skills.

● Demonstrate critical thinking and ability to work with minimal supervision.

● Demonstrate teamwork skills.

● Follow HIPAA policies to maintain the privacy and security of patient information.

● Demonstrate ability to follow direction

● Respond to sleep patients’ procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate

information.

● Assist with patient education utilizing sleep center specific protocols.

● Adhere to sleep center policies related to quality assurance.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Successful completion of a sleep technology program, associated with a state licensed

and/or a nationally accredited educational facility.

A minimum of 2 years of experience with documented proficiency in all required competencies.

OR Holds a RPSGT, RRT, CCSH equivalent.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an

employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable

accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the

essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently

required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or

balance; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; and stoop,

kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds,

frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50

pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision,

color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an

employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable

accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the

essential functions. In the performance of this job, the employee may be exposed to

chemical vapors such as cleaning and disinfecting solutions. There may also be skin

contact with these substances. The employee may also be exposed to infectious agents

including bloodborne pathogens.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform

other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.