Polysomnography Technologist - Center for Sleep Medicine - Per Diem

MelroseWakefield Healthcare, Inc.; Melrose (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) retirement plan with hospital –

Opportunities for growth

Free Parking

Job summary

Melrose/Wakefield Hospital is seeking a Sleep Technologist to evaluate sleep disorders and provide comprehensive care. You will perform in-center and home sleep testing, operate polysomnography equipment, and educate patients under medical supervision.

Shifts are 12 hours (7pm–7am) with availability on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at Melrose/Wakefield Hospital, MA. The role emphasizes safety, accuracy, and collaboration with physicians.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of a sleep technology program.
• RPSGT, or eligible for RPSGT or RST, or Certified Polysomnographic Technologist.
• BLS certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Collects and analyzes patient information to identify needs.
• Determines testing parameters with physician or sleep center protocols.
• Verifies history, orders, and consent for studies.
• Explains procedures and orients patient for in-center or home sleep testing.
• Operates and calibrates sleep study equipment for accurate data collection.
• Applies electrodes/sensors according to standards and assists with PAP fitting.
• Follows protocols for data acquisition and artifact management.
• Documents observations and patient safety during procedures.

Skills

Sleep technology

Polysomnography

Patient education

Vital signs monitoring

Medical terminology

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Sleep technology program

RPSGT or eligible for RPSGT/RST

BLS certification

Tools

Polysomnography equipment

ECG/physiological monitoring

Job description

Melrose/Wakefield 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, Melrose/Wakefield Hospital offers many opportunities to grow your career.

Job Profile Summary This role focuses on assessing the needs of patients who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities and delivering therapy services to improve their developmental, physical or cognitive impairment. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Sleep Therapy duties: Evaluates patients and helps them improve physical and mental conditions through treating a variety of sleep-related conditions. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An entry-level role typically requiring little to no prior knowledge or experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Work is routine or follows standard procedures, is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation.

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.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. 2. Successful completion of a sleep technology program.
3. 3. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), or eligible for RPSGT or Registered Sleep Technologist (RST), or Certified Polysomnographic Technologist.
4. 4. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. 1. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) or Registered Sleep Technologist (RST).
2. 2. Two (2) years of experience in a sleep lab.

Hours: 12 hours shifts, 7pm-7am, available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Location: Melrose/Wakefield Hospital - 585 Lebanon St, Melrose, MA 02176.

What We Offer:

• 403(b) retirement plan with hospital match
• Opportunities for growth
• Free Parking

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 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. 2. Determines final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or medical director and sleep center protocols.
3. 3. Reviews the patient’s history and verify medical orders.
4. 4. When patient arrives, verifies identification, collects documents and obtains consent for the study.
5. 5. Explains the procedure and orient the patient for either in center or home sleep apnea testing using age appropriate patient education.
6. 6. Selects appropriate equipment and calibrate for testing to determine proper functioning and make adjustments, if necessary.
7. 7. Applies electrodes and sensors according to accepted published standards.
8. 8. Performs routine positive airway pressure (PAP) interface fitting and desensitization.
9. 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. 10. Performs appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals and make required adjustments.
11. 11. Follows “lights out” procedures to establish and document baseline values (such as body position, oxyhemoglobin saturation, respiratory and heart rates, etc.).
12. 12. Performs data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free. Identify, correct and document artifact.
13. 13. Documents routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, changes in procedure, and other significant events in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.
14. 14. Implements appropriate interventions (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.).
15. 15. Follows “lights on” procedures to verify integrity of collected data and complete the data collection process (e.g. repeat the physiological and instrument calibrations and instruct the patient on completing questionnaires, checking for completeness, etc.).
16. 16. Performs patient education and instruction appropriate for home sleep apnea testing.
17. 17. Demonstrates adherence to cleaning, disinfection and infection control procedures.
18. 18. Complies with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and standards regarding safety and infection control issues. Adhere to sleep center policies and procedures. Comply with professional standards of conduct.
19. 19. Performs routine equipment care and maintenance and inventory evaluation. Inspect and maintain sleep study related equipment and inventory.

Physical Requirements:

1. 1. Occasional sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, frequent standing, walking & transferring of patients. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
2. 2. Required to sit and carefully monitor polysomnograms and patients for several continuous hours.
3. 3. Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate computer keyboard, dexterity to provide testing and treatment techniques to a wide variety of patients.
4. 4. Requires ability to see computer screen and reports. Visually and audibly assess patient and environment and assess patient subjective complaints.

Skills & Abilities:

1. 1. Ability to integrate basic understanding of anatomy and physiology with sleep/wake pathology.
2. 2. Broad knowledge of all polysomnographic procedures as performed in the Sleep Center.
3. 3. Ability to apply professional judgment to attain optimal technical results.
4. 4. Ability to understand indications, contraindications and adverse effects of nasal continuous and bi-level positive pressure and oxygen administration.
5. 5. Understanding of the equipment used to monitor and record breathing (airflow/effort), electroencephalogram (brain waves), electrocardiogram (heart rate and rhythm), electromyogram (muscle activity), and pulse oximetry (blood oxygenation/saturation).
6. 6. Knowledge of special procedures such as multiple sleep latency testing, maintenance of wakefulness and ambulatory monitoring is necessary.
7. 7. Available to perform in-house, portable studies on patients unable to come to the Sleep Center.
8. 8. Attention to detail is required for ensuring patient education, safety, comfort as well as discussing clinical situations with physicians.
9. 9. Know when to consult the physician regarding patient’s care and must react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.

About Melrose/Wakefield Hospital

Melrose/Wakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford are two campuses with one community in mind: the people of north suburban Boston. Melrose/Wakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital are 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, Melrose/Wakefield 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. At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day. The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals. Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it. Pay Range: based on full-time equivalent Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community health care to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Healthcare, an expansive home care network and a large clinically integrated physician network, Tufts Medicine has more than 15,000 dedicated employees and caregivers. The health system came together in 2014 to leverage the experience of its member organizations and integrate their missions to together transform the ways that consumers engage with and experience their care.