Polysomnographer I

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of the clinical director and Lead, performs independent comprehensive polysomnographic testing and analysis. Provides clinical patient care and education to facilitate diagnosis of sleep disorders. Provides education, training and precepts Technicians. Demonstrates performance consistent with the Medical Center Vision, Mission, and strategic plan of the organization.

Remains flexible to changing systems; is expected to demonstrate quality and effectiveness in work habits and clinical practice; and treats co-workers, patients, families, and all members of the health care team with dignity and respect.

Essential Responsibilities

• Precepts and oversees the polysomnographic technician, trains students, orients registry and new hire staff.
• Explains pre-testing, testing, and post testing procedures and orients patients to the sleep center.
• Provides patient mobility and bathroom assistance as needed.
• Review patient history, physical information, and procedure request.
• Gather, review, and document patient information (height, weight, Temperature, BP, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, neck circumference, patient photograph, sleep questionnaires, etc.)
• Follows lights out procedures to establish and document baseline values such as body position, etc.
• Follows procedural protocols such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness (MWT), parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen therapy limited to 2 lpm nasal cannula, etc. to ensure collection of appropriate data.
• Stages and scores sleep/wake stages by applying professional accepted guidelines and policies and procedures.
• Scores clinical events.
• Collects patient information in order to identify and meet the patient specific needs.
• Completes and verifies documentation.
• Prepares and calibrates equipment required for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.
• Applies electrodes and sensors to patient according to accepted published standards and policies and procedures.
• Follows procedural protocols to ensure collection of appropriate data.
• Performs polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and makes adjustments, if necessary
• Documents routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedures and other significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
• Recognizes and identifies patients that require therapeutic intervention such as CPAP and oxygen therapy limited to 2 liters per minute nasal cannula.
• Performs routine positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting.
• Applies PAP as needed and follows PAP titration protocol.
• Follows Lights on procedure to verify the integrity of collected data and completes the data collection process such as repeat of the instrumental calibrations and impedance checks. Also instructs the patient on completing the questionnaire, etc.
• Sets up CPAP unit and downloads patient CPAP compliance information.
• Assist patients with CPAP compliance and trouble shooting.
• Sets up and demonstrates Home Diagnostic and CPAP units for home testing.
• Performs routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation.
• Maintains sleep study supplies and restocks CPAP masks.
• Participates in equipment care, cleaning, and maintenance.
• Complies with all Sleep Center performance expectations.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide age specific care.
• Completes ten continuing educational hours per year in sleep related topics.
• Utilizes effective communication and interpersonal relationship skills when interacting with other members of the health care team or patients. Displays tact and courteous behavior when working with staff and patients.
• Actively participates in educational programs and staff meetings that are scheduled by department.
• Promotes, ensures, and improves customer service to internal/external customers by demonstrating skills which are consistent with the organizations philosophy of providing extraordinary customer relations and quality service.
• Complies with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards regarding safety and infection control issues.
• Upholds Kaiser Permanentes policies and procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal, and local laws.
• Complies with the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BPRT) Standards of Conduct
• Consistently supports compliance and the Principles of Responsibility (Kaiser Permanentes Code of Conduct) by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licenser requirements (if applicable), and Kaiser Permanentes policies and procedures.
• In addition to defined technical requirements, accountable for consistently demonstrating service behaviors and principles defined by the Kaiser Permanente Service Quality Credo, the KP Mission as well as specific departmental/organizational initiatives. Also accountable for consistently demonstrating the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors necessary to provide superior and culturally sensitive service to each other, to our members, and to purchasers, contracted providers and vendors