Part Time Sleep Technologist/Polysomnographer

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, part of the Tufts Medicine system, has been offering the highest quality and accessible healthcare to the local community for over 130 years. With two hospital campuses, Level III Trauma Center, Level III Special Care Nursery, Breast Health Center, Cardiovascular Center and over 20 locations and 50 specialties, Lawrence Memorial Hospital offers many opportunities to grow your career.

Job Overview

Under the direction of medical supervision, this position provides evaluations and treatments of sleep disorders including in center, overnight polysomnograms and home sleep testing, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care and direct patient education. This individual functions independently to safely operate sophisticated medical equipment to record sleep/wake physiology. Responsible for documenting and scoring testing accurately in the medical record to comply with the policy and procedures of the department, organization and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Associate's degree in a health-related field.

2. Successful completion of a sleep technology program.

3. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), Registered Sleep Technologist (RST), or Sleep Disorder Specialist (SDS).

4. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

5. Two (2) years of experience in a sleep lab.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Collects, analyzes and integrates patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs (physical, mental limitations, current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure, pertinent medical/social history).

2. Determines final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or medical director and sleep center protocols.

3. Reviews the patient's history and verify medical orders.

4. Follows sleep center protocols related to the sleep study.

5. When patient arrives, verify identification, collect documents and obtain consent for the study.

6. Explain the procedure and orient the patient for either in center or home sleep apnea testing using age appropriate patient education.

7. Selects appropriate equipment and calibrate for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.

8. Administers oxygen and nasal continuous airway pressure and employs ventilatory assist devices in accordance with established protocols set forth by the medical director. Such knowledge provides the basis for monitoring polysomnograms and recognizing pathology that requires treatment. The technologist understands the function of equipment used to monitor and record breathing (airflow/effort), electroencephalogram (brain waves), electrocardiograms (heart rate and rhythm), electromyogram (muscle activity), and pulse oximety (blood oxygenation/saturation).

9. Follows procedural protocols [such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP and oxygen titration, etc.] to ensure collection of appropriate data.

10. Performs special procedures such as multiple sleep latency testing and ambulatory monitoring.

11. Scores sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals, etc.) utilizing American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) standards.

12. Generates accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.

13. Interviews patient to assess current medications, recent caffeine or alcohol ingestion, current sleep patterns, and need for treatment intervention during testing (e.g. medications/special needs).

14. Performs patient education and instruction appropriate for home sleep apnea testing.

15. Cleans, disinfects, and follows infection control procedures.

16. Performs routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation. Inspect and maintain sleep study related equipment and inventory.

17. Responds to sleep patients' procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate education utilizing sleep center specific protocols.

18. Prepares department for joint commission, AASM and other regulatory surveys and participates in CQI activities. Performs other related duties as assigned and/or necessary to assure appropriate patient care

19. Assists the medical director, clinical director and/or manager in all aspects of sleep center operations.

20. Performs other related duties as assigned and/or necessary to assure appropriate patient care/department needs, including being cross trained to cover at all positions, in order to maintain consistent coverage/staffing within the department.

About Lawrence Memorial Hospital

Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford is one campus with one community in mind: the people of north suburban Boston. Lawrence Memorial Hospital is distinguished by the range of high-quality clinical care and services. Our teams welcome everyone with hospitality and humanity. We focus on reducing health disparities through 40+ local health programs across a system of hospitals, urgent care locations, outpatient services, and community physicians.

Core to our values, Lawrence Memorial Hospital's commitment to community is demonstrated by our many local health programs throughout our service area and participation in partnerships with community agencies and events, and education programs in more than 10 communities to support the wellness and health of our residents.