IONM Technologist

About the job IONM Technologist

About the job

Provide intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) care for patients during surgical procedures where there is risk of neurologic injury. Detect early signs of potential or evolving injury so that steps may be taken during surgery to reduce the risk of postoperative neurologic deficit. Provided services may include testing with evoked potentials, electromyography, electroencephalography, nerve conduction studies and/or other modalities.

Job Responsibilities

• Explain test procedures so they are understandable to the patient and any family members who are present.
• Identify oneself appropriately and makes the patient and/or family relaxed and confident in understanding the role of the surgical neurophysiologist.
• Apply stimulation and recording electrodes in an accurate and timely manner.
• Perform initial clinical motor and sensory neurological assessment and incorporates results into expectations or changes in monitoring protocols.
• Consult with anesthesia team regarding management of anesthetic agents for successful recording of neurophysiological signals.
• Review the patient medical record, x-rays, MRI scans and clinical history to determine appropriateness of the monitoring.
• Prepare patient for neurophysiological monitoring by applying electrodes in the holding area and/or in the operating room.
• Calibrate, evaluate and adjust equipment, optimizing stimulation and recording parameters to acquire salient data.
• Set up neurophysiological equipment following any indicated biomedical electrical safety checks, with equipment properly located in operating room and assembled with respect to reduction of recording artifact.
• Establish and prepare medical record documentation in accordance with hospital and company policy.
• Implement appropriate troubleshooting methods, such as adjusting stimulation and recording parameters to collect accurate information.
• Keep equipment clean and in proper working order, reporting malfunctions to supervisor and/or biomedical engineering department and/or manufacturer.
• Communicate and document potential or real equipment problems to all relevant members of the clinical team.
• Establish and maintain timely communication with other members of the neuromonitoring team who may be providing professional oversight and/or consultation during surgery.
• Interact with surgeons and other members of the surgical team to provide interpretive data regarding the patients neurological status during the procedure.
• Identify and eliminate physiological and non-physiological artifacts in recordings.
• Recognize normal patterns, normal variants, and abnormal patterns in neurophysiological recordings.
• Understand the medical and pharmacological/anesthetic conditions that influence neurophysiological recordings.
• Understand the clinical correlations between abnormal evoked potentials and various pathological states.
• Record, troubleshoot, identify and interpret obligate neurophysiological signals, and report to the surgical team with options for specific interventions when necessary (e.g. stop surgery, wait and raise blood pressure, initiate methylprednisolone protocol, temporary break from surgery, remove instrumentation, etc.)
• Communicate neurophysiological changes to the surgical team, providing a technical description of the monitoring recordings as needed.
• Performs post-operative clinical follow-up, and provides follow-up recording as needed.
• Disconnect the electrodes from the patient following surgery and disassembles equipment.
• Follow company needle and safety practices.
• Display, label and print waveforms to electronic copy for interpretation and/or archiving.
• Calculate measures such as evoked potential latency and amplitude following established guidelines and protocols.
• Prepare accurate and timely IONM logs, files and work/technical sheets, including a technical description of the IONM modalities, with emphasis on clinical observations in order to assist with preparation of a professional report.
• Ensure that all required documentation is completed according to protocol established by the customer and management.
• Read, understand, and implement all policies and procedure guidelines.
• Inform appropriate individuals of inventory level, equipment condition, and general needs.
• Assist physician and other clinical staff members as requested.
• Ensure that supplies are ordered, stocked and available as needed.
• Travel locally to fill in coverage as needed.
• Live the company values Integrity, Teamwork, Care & Improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.
• Registered EEG, EP, or NCST
• Certification in one or more of the following:
  • Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM) can be CNIM eligible,
  • Diplomate of the American Board of Neurophysiologic Monitoring (DABNM)
  • Board Certified Specialist Intraoperative Monitoring (BCS-IOM)

Experience:

• Two years' minimum experience in intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.
• Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate Degree in a science related field required.
• Two years minimum of experience; Five plus years of experience preferred.
• Ability to work on Call.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Possess good interpersonal skills to communicate with the patient and all medical personnel in the operative setting, to include but not limited to the surgeon, charge nurse, anesthesiologist, residents and fellows.
• Possess good organizational skills and be able to multi-task in a fast-paced operating room environment.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety manuals, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, employees and organizations.
• Ability to speak clearly, write and understand English.
• Ability to understand and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in routine and/or emergency situations.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and statistics.
• Ability to analyze complex information simultaneously such as neurophysiological data in relationship to surgical context, type of anesthesia, and environmental factors and influences.
• Basic typing and computer skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential duties of this job, which may vary by location. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the associate is required to: stand, walk, sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch; talk or hear.
• Hearing must be normal, with or without correction.
• Must be able to lift and/or move, push or pull 50 lbs. or more with or without assistance.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Vision must be normal with or without correction.
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner.
• Associates work in hospitals and other business or office settings.
• The noise level encountered may vary from quiet to loud.
• Associates may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and hazardous chemicals.
• Ability to work a minimum of eight hours per day and longer according to case/staffing requirements.
• Ability to work when needed and be available to work variable hours and shifts (day, afternoon, evening, weekends, holidays).
• Ability to work in a demanding, fast-paced work environment.
• Physical Demands & Work Environment
• While performing this job's essential duties, the associate must stand, walk, sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch; talk or hear.
• Hearing must be normal, with or without correction.
• Must be able to lift and/or move, push or pull 50 pounds or more.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Vision must be normal with or without correction.
• Associates work in hospitals and other business or office settings.
• The noise level encountered may vary from quiet to loud.
• Associates may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and hazardous chemicals.
• Ability to work a minimum of eight hours per day and longer according to case/staffing requirements.
• Ability to work when needed and be available to work variable hours and shifts (day, afternoon, evening, weekends, holidays).
• Ability to work in a demanding, fast-paced work environment.

Compensation

• Base pay of $60k-$90k (based on experience and certifications)
• Overtime/Travel/Other bonus opportunities
• Sign-On bonus up to 15k

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental
• 401k plus matching
• Generous PTO
• Tuition reimbursement/student loan repayment,
• Professional membership dues and professional development stipend
• Sign-On Bonus
• Relocation assistance
• Plus More

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