Sleep Technologist Sleep Medicine Nights - Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders under the general supervision of the clinical director (M.D., D.O., or PhD) or designee. This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services or patient care and education. The sleep technologist is credentialed in sleep technology and is able to provide oversight to other sleep center staff.

1. Collects, analyzes, and integrates patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs (physical/mental limitations, emotional/physiological status, and pertinent medical/social history).
2. Determines final test parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
3. Follows sleep center protocols related to the sleep study; explains the procedure and orients the patient for either in-lab or out of center sleep testing.
4. Applies electrodes and sensors according to accepted standards and performs routine PAP interface fitting and desensitization.
5. Follows procedural protocols [such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration etc.] to ensure collection of appropriate data.
6. Follows "lights out" procedures to establish and document baseline values.
7. Performs data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and makes required adjustments.
8. Documents routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical evenets, changes in procedure, and other significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
9. Implements appropriate interventions during the study.
10. Follows "lights on" procedures to verify integrity of collected data and completes the data collection process.
11. Demonstrates 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.
12. Oversees and performs difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions, including CPAP, BIPAP, ASV, Trilogy, and TAP Devices.
13. Collects, analyzes and integrates patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
14. Completes and verifies documentation.
15. Explains pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient and responds to procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate information.
16. Scores sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines.
17. Scores clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements,etc.) according to center specific protocols.
18. Generates accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
19. Performs all other duties as required or assigned.

• Successful completion of an accredited educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis in polysomnography OR successful completion of a polysomnography program of no less than one year duration required.
• Bachelor's Degree or completion of an accredited training program or associates degree in nursing, respiratory therapy, EEG or the equivalent preferred.
• 1 to 3 years prior polysomnography experience required.
• Ability to use good judgment and work independently as well as part of a team.
• Able to deal appropriately with emergency medical situations.
• Demonstrate effective written and spoken communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Basic computer skills required.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex situations and apply policy and recognize and observe privacy and confidentiality.

• Certified in and ability to maintain certification in BLS
• Certification by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.