<p>JOB SUMMARY: A Technician has earned recognition as a Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) or has become a registered nurse (RN). Polysomnographic Technicians work under the general direction of the Sleep & Neurodiagnostic Center Director, Unit Lead Coordinator, and Technologists to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep and neurologic disorders. This may involve polysomnography, electroencephalography, home studies, diagnostic and therapeutic services, CPAP setup, or patient care and education. Sleep studies, EEGs and home studies may require travel in the employee's personal vehicle to satellite facilities or patient's homes up to 75 miles from Hancock Regional. Also works with the automated messaging software. A Polysomnographic Technician provides supervision of Trainees and is required to participate in on call coverage for EEG collection. This summary is intended to be a general description of the work performed by the person in this position and is not intended as a complete list of responsibilities, duties and skills. An RN must complete the AASM A-Step Modules and an EKG class. This summary is intended to be a general description of the work performed by the person in this position and is not intended as a complete list of responsibilities, duties and skills.</p> <p>:</p> <p>JOB SPECIFIC CORE COMPETENCIES:</p> <ul> <li>Knowledgeable with Natus Software. </li><li>Able to register and charge patients in Meditech. </li><li>Able to perform 10/20 EEG hookup. </li><li>Communicates effectively with patients and staff. Ensures Patient is aware of procedures taking place and notifies staff of any changes in schedule while maintaining professional attitude. </li></ul> <p>ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:</p> <ul> <li>Verify the insurance requirements, medical order, and protocol. </li><li>Complete and verify documentation. </li><li>Explain the procedure and orient the patient to the Sleep & Neurodiagnostic Center. </li><li>Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and adjust if necessary. </li><li>Apply electrodes and sensors per accepted published standards. </li><li>Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and adjust if necessary. </li><li>Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting and setup. </li><li>Follow procedural protocols such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration, electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, home studies, etc. to ensure collection of appropriate data. </li><li>Follow "lights out" procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.) </li><li>Perform Polysomnographic and EEG data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and adjust, if necessary. </li><li>Document routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic and EEG results. </li><li>Assist with appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, adaptive servo ventilation, oxygen administration, etc.). </li><li>Follow "lights on" procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.) </li><li>Develop and demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. </li><li>Learns to score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. </li></ul> <p>EXPECTED BEHAVIORS:</p> <ul> <li>Adheres to Patients First Behavioral Commitment. </li><li>Provides patient services at highest quality. </li><li>Responsible care-giver and patient educator. </li><li>Independent worker capable of good, quick decision making skills. </li><li>Good communication skills with patients and collaborating with Sleep & Neurodiagnostic Center Director in collection of studies. </li><li>Participates in community outreach activities to inform public about sleep disorders. </li></ul> <p>LICENSURE/CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrates knowledge and technical skill necessary for providing competent, comprehensive patient care. May be required to meet education requirements to become a registered technologist. EEG credentialing will be required within certain time frames listed above. A Technician must obtain the RPSGT credential within 18 months after becoming CPSGT or from date of hire except for RNs. At the CPSGT's expense, the Technician will be allowed to take the RPSGT exam numerous times during the 18 month window. In the event the Technician has not taken the test during the 18 month period, their position may be terminated. In the event the Technician took the exam, but failed to pass it, they will be allowed an additional 6 months to pass the exam. In the event, the RPSGT exam is not passed within the extended period, their position may be terminated. After passing the RPSGT exam, the Technician will be promoted to Technologist. A Registered Nurse (RN) can work as a Polysomnographic Technician and is not required to become a registered polysomnographic technologist, but can not collect sleep studies without supervision. EEG credentialing may be required. In the event EEG credentialing is required, The Polysomnographic Technician must take and pass the EEG Exam or equivalent exam provided by ABRET Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation by following one of their listed eligibility pathways. This may require taking an ABRET recognized program, obtaining an Associate's Degree, or acquiring other healthcare credentials. Within 3 months of becoming eligible, the Polysomnographic Technician must pass the EEG or equivalent exam. In the event the Polysomnographic Technician has not taken the test within the 3 month period, their position may be terminated. At the Polysomnographic Technician's expense, the Polysomnographic Technician will be allowed to take the exam numerous times. If the Polysomnographic Technician took the exam, but failed to pass it, they will be allowed an additional 3 months to pass the exam. In the event, the exam is not passed within the extended period, their position may be terminated.</p> <p>ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Mandatory Annual Continuing Education: Customer Service, Fire and Safety, Confidentiality-HIPAA, Infection Control, Corporate Compliance. Annual Unit Specific Competencies, and all education required by regulatory, accreditation bodies and/or Hancock Regional Hospital.</p> <p>PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:</p> <ul> <li>Assist ambulatory patients independently </li><li>Lift to 50 lbs. independently and for weights greater than 50 lbs. must use mechanical device or team lifting. </li><li>Hearing requirements include but are not limited to hearing and responding to codes, monitors, pagers, phones, equipment alarms or patients calling for assistance, ability to auscultate B/P. </li><li>Must be able to lift from ground level up above own head </li><li>Squatting and bending at waist to reach under beds, repetitive crouching as needed </li><li>Standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling as needed more than 2/3 of day </li><li>Push/Pull patients of up to 250 lbs. in a wheeled device and for weights greater than 250 lbs. must use team assistance. </li><li>Transfer and ambulate patients with mechanical lift as necessary greater than 300 lbs. </li><li>Vision requirements include but are not limited to close vision, distant vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. This may include ability to read thermometers, electronic scales, etc. </li></ul> <p>EQUIPMENT USED Polysomnographic collection and analysis systems, EEG collection and analysis equipment, home study collection equipment, capnograph, computers including networked drives, telephone, fax, automated messaging software, scanner, CPAP, accounting and follow-up software.</p> <p>ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: High stress environment with chronically ill patients of all ages.</p>