Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) Technologist - Houston, TX - MPOWERHealth
Houston, TX 77002
About the Job
This is a talent pool and is not an active opening. If a position becomes open in this region, applicants will be contacted.
Compensation and Benefits at MPOWERHealth:
- Competitive salary dependent upon years of experience, education level, certifications, and skillset
- Comprehensive health benefits & wellbeing program with opportunity to earn 100% employer paid health insurance and $1,500 towards Health Savings Account company contributions annually
- Competitive 401(k) company match with immediate vesting
- IOM Technologists are eligible for a quarterly utilization incentive up to $2,000 per quarter
- Monetary travel incentive and travel perks available: earn between $150-250 per case day while traveling for case coverage
- On-call pay
- Advanced case training available
- Vacation, sick time & company paid holidays included
Under the supervision of the clinical manager, performs a preoperative assessment of the patient, conducts intraoperative sensory and motor tests using currently accepted electrophysiological techniques. Compiles real-time collection and interpretation of data and completes post-operative reports and billing forms. The purpose of this testing is to reduce the incidence of stroke, paresthesia, impotence, incontinence, and paralysis as a post-operative surgical outcome.
Patient Consultation
- Explains test procedures so they are understandable to the patient and any family members that are present.
- Measures and accurately applies to recording electrodes in a timely manner, according to the international 10-20 Electrode Placement System.
IOM Equipment Setup
- Calibrates, evaluates, and adjusts equipment, optimizing recording and stimulation parameters, to acquire salient data and information.
- Implements appropriate troubleshooting methods, such as adjusting stimulation, to assure accurate recording of information.
- Keeps equipment clean and in proper working order, reporting technical malfunctions to supervisor and/or manufacturer.
Intraoperative Monitoring
- During surgery, interacts with the surgical team and surgeons to provide interpretive data regarding the patient’s neurological status.
- Identifies and eliminates physiological and non-physiological artifacts.
- Recognizes normal patterns, normal variants, and abnormal patterns; understands the medical and pharmacological/anesthetic conditions that influence all recording IOM modalities (e.g., EP, BAER, MEP, Etc.); understands the clinical correlations between abnormal evoked potentials and various disease states.
Documentation
- Displays, prints, and labels waveforms to hard copy for interpretation marking, measuring, and calculating information such as latencies, voltages, and conduction times following established National Neuromonitoring Services guidelines and protocols.
- Accurately documents significant events and stages of surgery in a timely manner complete all IOM logs, files, and work/technical sheet, including a technical description of the IOM modality recorded, with emphasis on the clinical observations in order to assist the neurologists and/or designated MD with the final interpretation.
Additional Duties
- Following the completion of training, assists new IOM technologists
- If workload allows, attends scientific courses and seminars for continuing education.
- Performs additional duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Corporate staff.
- CNIM required. This is not a training position.
- Must hold a valid driver’s license.
- Minimum of Bachelor’s degree or higher (i.e. Masters, Ph.D., MD).
- Must have current AHA CPR certification.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuroanatomy, pathologic processes, and aseptic techniques.
- Knowledge of procedures followed in conducting electrophysiological tests and examinations on patients.
- Knowledge of electrophysiological equipment used in performing tests on patients.
- Ability to analyze various electronic and neurophysiologic waveforms.
- Interpersonal communication skills necessary to interact with medical staff, patients, visitors, and other hospital employees.
- Ability to stand, turn and stoop among several types of equipment in an operating room suite.
- Ability to apply different types of electrodes to a patient’s anatomy with precision and speed in preparation for monitoring a surgical procedure.
- Ability to sit for extended periods of time, while concentrating on monitoring computer screen images during a surgical procedure.
Working Conditions:
- Possible exposure to communicable diseases and hazardous materials with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followed.
- The use of protective clothing such as surgical clothing, gloves, glasses, and masks (PPE).
- Work requires lifting supplies, pushing, or carrying bulky pieces of equipment.
- Occasional/frequent travel by motor vehicle and/or air transportation to healthcare facilities located in both urban and rural areas.
- Variable work schedules that may change from week to week, depending on caseload, surgeon’s availability, creating situations that may require minimal notice to be available for a case.
- Will require cell phone availability for scheduled “on-call time” during weekends to cover add-on, elective, or emergency cases.
- Usually working independently of other Technologists.
- Physical demands would include lifting and transporting 40-45lbs of monitoring equipment to each facility utilizing proper lifting techniques.
Reporting Relationship:
- Receives general direction for case assignments and workweek scheduling from the Director of Operations and Operations Manager.
- If appropriate, provides mentoring and tutorial guidance to IOM Technologist Trainees.
- Does not supervise other IOM Technologists.
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