At Houston Methodist, the Polysomnographic Technologist position is responsible for performing polysomnographic procedures under the general supervision of the clinical/medical director or designee to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. As a member of the direct patient care team, this position provides direct assistance to physicians and other health care professionals with sleep disorder-related procedures within the scope of the professional licensure. The Polysomnographic Technologist position delivers exceptional patient care and adheres to standards and guidelines established by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT), American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Houston Methodist to ensure optimal patient safety and customer service by working independently, exercising sound judgment and competent clinical skills.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to teamwork by promoting a positive work environment and to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one other to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner, which includes active listening and teaching.

• Communicates effectively with others to facilitate providing the highest quality service during every customer and patient encounter. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Serves as a patient advocate in preventing/resolving ethical issues.

• Uses peer-to-peer accountability by providing contributions towards improvement of department goals for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs procedures related to sleep studies, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), Parasomnia studies, Pulmonary Artery Pressure (PAP) and oxygen titration, etc. to ensure collection of appropriate data and in accordance with established protocols and policies and procedures.

• Educates patients in sleep study procedures, responding to questions and ensuring all paperwork and consent forms are completed. Consistently evaluates the patient's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.

• Prepares patients for procedures, providing for their physical needs, applying electrodes, sensors and other monitoring equipment per department protocols and professional standards. Performs appropriate physiological calibrations to ensure proper signals, making adjustments as necessary for optimum outcomes.

• Uses peer-to-peer accountability to contribute towards improving department score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free. Establishes and documents baseline values, routine observations, including sleep stages and clinical events, position changes, and other significant events such as cardiac arrhythmias, seizure activities, types of apneas, hypoxemias, sleep talking, Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS) and other movement disorders in order to facilitate scoring and interpretation of polysomnographic results.

• Verifies integrity of collected data and completes the data collection process, e.g., repeats the physiological and instrument calibrations and instructs the patient on completing questionnaires, etc.

• Prepares and calibrates equipment, makes adjustments as necessary. Performs routine and complex equipment care and maintenance, following department protocols for cleaning and disinfecting. Evaluates sleep study related equipment, reporting and documenting malfunctions.

• Implements appropriate interventions during the study (including actions necessary for patient safety and therapeutic intervention such as continuous and Bi-level positive airway pressure, oxygen administration, etc.), involving others as needed to ensure quality outcomes. Reports ¿near misses¿ and inputs errors promptly into documentation system, as applicable, to improve processes and identify trends. Contributes to identification of corrective action and improvement activities and to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Accurately documents all patient care and polysomnography related activities and procedures in the appropriate documentation system. Enters charges at the time service is delivered.

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Evaluates and reports on inventory levels. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in department projects focused on innovation, efficiency or improvement in patient care and activities, and shared governance activities.

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Polysomnographic Technologist. Completes and updates My Development plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One year experience in a Sleep Disorders laboratory/center preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• RPSGT - Registered Polysomnographer Technologist (BRPT) OR
• RRT-SDS - Registered Respiratory Therapist Sleep Disorder Specialty (NBRC) AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital / Sleep Study Information Systems and Office software to maintain patient and exam documents

• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers

• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including, organizing work flow and actively participating in problem-solving

• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.