Polysom Technician

St. Joseph Health – Bryan/College Station, Navasota, Caldwell, Madisonville, TX. Since 1936, St. Joseph Health has been caring for the communities in and surrounding the Brazos Valley. We have a Level III Trauma Center, the first Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Center, and the first accredited Chest Pain Center in the Brazos Valley. St. Joseph Health is a leader in critical care and the largest provider of cardiovascular care in the region. As an integrated healthcare system St. Joseph Health includes a comprehensive network of over 100 employed providers including primary care physicians specialists and advanced practice clinicians. The network includes more than 30 ambulatory clinics featuring primary care, Express Clinics, and imaging and diagnostic services.

The Polysomnographic Technician works under the supervision of the Polysomnographic Technologist to provide clinical care to patients of the Sleep Lab. Under the direction of the Medical Director, referring provider, and supervisor, the Polysomnographic Technician works to provide evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. Patient care services provided by the Polysomnographic Technician include polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services, patient care, and education. The Polysomnographic Technician is responsible for maintaining standards of professional and ethical practice. Services are delivered within the framework of an interdisciplinary team approach, including the patient and significant others. These services are delivered in compliance with CommonSpirit Health's mission, ethical standards, and policies and procedures.

Gather and Analyze Patient Information: Collect, analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet patient-specific needs, to include physical/mental limitations, current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure, pertinent medical/social history. Determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols. Complete and verify documentation. Explain pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures to the patient.

Testing Preparation 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 if necessary. Perform positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.

Polysomnographic Procedures: Follow procedural protocols for parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration etc. to ensure collection of appropriate data. Follow “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc). Perform Polysomnographic data acquisition while, monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments, if necessary. Document routine observations including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results. Implement appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc). 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). Demonstrate 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.

Polysomnographic Record Scoring: Score sleep/wake stages by applying professionally accepted guidelines. Score clinical events (such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals etc.) according to center specific protocols. Generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data.

Service Management and Professional Practice: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control. Perform routine and complex equipment care and maintenance. Evaluate sleep study related equipment and inventory. Maintain current BLS/CPR certification. Demonstrate effective written and spoken communication skills. Respond to study participant's procedural-related inquiries by providing appropriate information. Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex situations and apply policy. Comply with the ABSM Standards of Conduct.

Associates Degree- Successful completion of an accredited educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis in polysomnography or successful completion of a polysomnography program associated with a state licensed and/or a nationally accredited educational facility.

BLS Certification- within 14 days of  hire