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Career Profile of a Polysomnographic Technologist (PSG Technicians) - Job Profile, Duties & Responsibilities
A polysomnographic technologist
performs, monitors, and scores sleep studies. People with complaints
of snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs, and other
sleep-related problems have overnight testing performed in sleep
labs. PSG technicians
attach several recording devices to the patient. Technicians then
record the data on a computer overnight while the patient sleeps.
Sleep technicians often provide therapeutic intervention in cases
of severe sleep apnea.
Polysomnographic
Technician performs
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A variety of sleep
studies, as directed by a physician.
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Measures electrical
activity of patient's brain waves and other physiological variables.
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Calibrates and adjusts
equipment, including troubleshooting minor problems.
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Collects and transmits
biological specimens for analyses.
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Performs and records
routine patient assessment.
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Scores sleep records and
documents other test results to aid physician in diagnosis and treatment
of sleep disorders
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A polysomnographic
technologist (or PSGT) runs overnight polysomnograms on those with
suspected sleep disorders or have been ordered to do so by a physician.
Becoming a PGTT
To become a PGTT one
must, in most cases, perform overnight polysomnograms for 6 months or
attend and graduate from a school of sleep medicine.
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This differs from a
Registered Polysomnographic technician (RPSGT) in that they have not
yet performed overnight polysomnograms for 18 months and passed their
registry exam through the Board of Registered Polysomnographic
Technologists or BRPT. Taking the registry exam requires one to first
complete guidelines per BRPT rules. |
Polysomnographic
technologists collect data using PSG's (polysomnograms), which collect
EEG, EOG, EMG, and ECG as well as respiratory flow and effort. The
technologist or an assistant places wired electrodes on one's head to
collect and score brain wave activity (electroencephalogram or EEG).
Then there are electrodes
which document eye movement (electrooculogram or EOG), fluctuation of
muscle tension usually in the legs and chin (electromyogram or EMG), and
heart rate (ECG or electrocardiogram). This information was first
collected with analog equipment using needle-and-paper method, but in
recent years has been transferred to digital data collection which appears
on a computer screen. The technologist applies electrodes by first
cleaning the area on the skin or scalp with an exfoliating gel, then
applying the electrode with conducting gel (and sometimes a water-soluable
glue) that improves the body's electrical impedances, thus giving the
computer a better readout.
One of the largest growing areas in sleep medicine is in the area
of sleep-disordered breathing, especially Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
(OSAS), sometimes referred to as Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome
(OSAHS). An apnea is a cessation of either one or both respiratory effort
and airflow for 10 seconds or longer.
Demand
for Polysomnographic Technicians / Technologists
The need for
polysomnographic technicians/technologists is expected to continue to
grow in the coming years due to the increasing awareness of the ability to
diagnose and treat sleep disorders and the risk posed by a sleep disorder
that is undiagnosed and untreated.
Contributing Writer
: Jayakumar. A Lecturer, Faculty of Allied
Health Sciences, Directorate of Distance Education, Sikkim Manipal
University, Manipal-576104
jayakumar.a@manipalu.com
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