Polysomnographic Technologist- Night 36 hours weekly

Description

The Polysomnographic (PSG) Technologist will work under the general supervision of the Sleep Lab Manager and Medical Director to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services, or patient care and education. The PSG Technologist can perform the duties defined for a Polysomnographic Technician and may provide supervision of other staff. The PSG Technologist will maintain all skills and knowledge sufficient to provide safe, effective and appropriate care to patients of all ages, including neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults. The PSGT will report to the Manager of the Sleep Lab and be responsible for delivering quality patient care. Collect, analyze, and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet patient-specific needs, and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols. Perform comprehensive sleep studies to include overnight polysomnography, Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests (MWT), infant studies, seizure studies, CPAP/BiPAP and oxygen titrations, and other specialty studies in accordance with established protocols, APSS standards, and hospital policies and procedures. Complete and verify documentation. Prepare patient and family by explaining pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures. Prepare and calibrate equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments if necessary. Apply electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards. Perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments as necessary. Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting. Ensure the safety and welfare of all patients. Recognize patient's medical problems and physiological events and implement appropriate interventions, including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic interventions. Recognize indications and contraindications for testing and treatment and notify Sleep Lab physician. Oversee and perform difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions. Effectively manage the data per protocol for data scoring and interpretation. Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Score clinical events (e.g., respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) according to center specific protocols. Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data. Prepare and calibrate testing equipment to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.

The Sleep Laboratory at Children's National Hospital performs overnight sleep studies exclusively on the pediatric population and is the only accredited Sleep Laboratory in the DC area specifically performing sleep studies on children. We perform full polysomography on all children and infants with a specific focus on central nervous system abnormalities as well as respiratory disturbances. We are a teaching hospital and as such see patients with varied medical conditions providing a unique opportunity to learn and perhaps advance your skills in pediatric polysomnography.

Qualifications

Minimum Education
High School Diploma or GED

Specific Requirements and Preferences
To be eligible for this position, the applicant must be able to demonstrate one of the following: successful completion of an accredited educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis on polysomnography OR successful completion of a polysomnography program, of no less than one year duration, associated with a state-licensed and/or a nationally accredited educational facility OR equivalent experience and documented proficiency at all competencies required of a Polysomnographic Technician. (Required)

Demonstrates good interpersonal and communication skills with children/families of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Able to communicate effectively with physicians, clinical and administrative staff both orally and in writing.
Must have ability to integrate basic understanding of anatomy and physiology with sleep/wake pathology.
Attention to detail is critical since the quality of the data from the polysomnogram is solely the responsibility of the technician.
Must be able to work independently.
Must have basic abilities in the scoring of sleep studies.
Must have physical ability to move, lift and carry patients, and lift or move equipment and supplies up to 50 lbs.
Intermediate to experienced level of computer skills required.
Demonstrates knowledge of regulatory agency requirements (e.g., JCAHO, DCDOH, HIPAA).

Required Licenses and Certifications
Polysomnographic Technologist License/Registration as a Polysomnographic Technologist in the District of Columbia Req

Functional Accountabilities

Organization and Planning
1. Collect, analyze, and integrate patient information including psychosocial data to identify and anticipate patient-specific needs.
2. Determine final testing parameters/procedures in collaboration with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols.
3. Screen patient for current medications, recent caffeine or alcohol ingestion, current sleep pattern, and need for treatment intervention during testing.
4. Explain the procedure and orient the patient and family to the Sleep Center.
5. Set up equipment for study and CPAP according to established procedure.

Patient Care
1. Obtain and record vital signs, heights and weights, pulse ox according to policy and procedure.
2. Provide instruction to patients and families in regard to protocol treatments, equipment and sleep testing.
3. Ensure patient safety during procedures.
4. Recognize and implement appropriate interventions (e.g., continuous and Bi-Level PAP, oxygen administration, etc.) in response to patient’s medical problems and physiological events according to protocol.
5. Recognize and provide age-specific care in the treatment, assessment, and education of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.
6. Evaluate effectiveness and outcomes of interventions.

Technical Proficiency
1. Apply recording devices to patient and ensure the quality of data recorded according to published standards; perform appropriate physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals and make adjustments as needed; perform polysomnography (e.g., MSLT, MWT, parasomnia studies, etc.) and specialty procedures in accordance with established protocols and APSS standards.
2. Follow “lights out” procedures to establish and document accurate baseline values such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.; follow “lights on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and completes the data collection process.
3. Proficient in modes of operation of ventilatory assistance devices including CPAP and Bi-Level PAP equipment and patient interfaces
4. Oversee and perform difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions.
5. Proficient in operation of apnea monitors, transcutaneous blood gas monitors, pulse oximeters and end-tidal CO2 analyzers; prepare and calibrate testing equipment to determine proper functioning and makes adjustments, if necessary.
6. Perform routine and complex equipment care and maintenance; clean, disinfect, and cold sterilize sleep lab equipment; evaluate sleep study-related equipment and inventory.

Documentation
1. Document history, medications, treatments, procedures and teach appropriately in accordance with departmental and hospital policies.
2. Document observations, include sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and other significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
3. Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines, score clinical events according to center specific protocols; generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.
4. Document all studies conducted on appropriate forms; ensure all required written documentation and all computer data entry is thorough and complete.
5. Complete interpretation reports and checks for accuracy.
6. Archive patients’ studies.

Professionalism
1. Attend in-service, conferences, or work-shops to maintain and upgrade clinical knowledge-base and technical skills.
2. Participate in staff/departmental meetings.
3. Participate in departmental performance improvement activities.
4. Participate in research projects as needed.
5. Assist to maintain departmental readiness for regulatory surveys.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

1. Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication

2. Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
3. Partner with all team members to achieve goals
4. Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

1. Contribute to a positive work environment
2. Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
3. Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
4. Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

1. Use resources efficiently
2. Search for less costly ways of doing things
Safety

1. Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
2. Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
3. Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

4. Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
5. Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

6. Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance.

Primary Location

Work Locations

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Organization

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