Department/Unit:

Medicine - Sleep Center

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Polysomnographic Technologist

Sleep Center

Albany, NY

A Polysomnographic Technologist works under the general supervision of the clinical director (M.D., D.O., or PhD) or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. This may involve polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services or patient care and education. A Polysomnographic Technologist can perform the duties defined for a Polysomnographic Technician.

GATHER AND ANALYZE PATIENT INFORMATION:

•Collect, analyze and integrate 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), and to 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 such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), 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.

•Oversees and performs difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions.

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.

SALARY RANGE: $23.96/hr - $38.34/hr

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

Ability to be honest, to be punctual, and to perform the job in adherence to the highest standards of ethical conduct as defined by AMC and the tenets of the profession. Ability to be accurate in such matters as record-keeping, and to use good judgment when performing the functions of the job or when interacting with others. Ability to accept direction, carry out orders, to work cooperatively with others and to avoid the creation of unnecessary conflict. Ability to adhere to AMC’s policies, procedures and practices, and to utilize AMC’s problem-solving processes for resolving grievances or disagreements. Ability to anticipate and resolve potential problems to ensure the continuity of appropriate patient care.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to improve job performance through continuing education.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

In the performance of this job, the employee may be exposed to chemical vapors such as acetone, ether, or glutaraldehyde. There may also be skin contact with these substances. The employee may also be exposed to infectious agents including blood-borne pathogens.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related instructions given by their supervisor subject to reasonable accommodations.

http://www.aasmnet.org/techresources.aspx

Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!​

Albany Medical is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.

Albany Med is the centerpiece of medicine, research, and medical education in New York’s CapitalRegion and is the area's largest private employer with more than 10,000 employees.

Albany Med offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of roles in both patient care andadministration. We value all our staff members and offer outstanding employee benefits including:

• Excellent health care coverage (http://albanymedcareers.com/benefits/employee-health-%20benefits/) with lower copays at most Albany Med providers.

• A wide array of services and programs to support emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing (http://albanymedcareers.com/benefits/employee-advantages/)

Anchored in the state’s historic capital city, Albany Med offers a full range outpatient and inpatient careand is home to the region’s largest hospital, only Level 1 trauma center, and only children’s hospital. Thedowntown campus also offers opportunities at Albany Medical College.

Albany Med partners with Columbia Memorial Health, Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital to form the Albany Med Health System, serving more than three million people over 25 counties.