Polysomnographic Technologist Senior - PRN Nights

At Houston Methodist the Sr Polysomnographic Technologist position is an experienced and fully competent Polysomnographic Technologist who works under the general supervision of clinical/medical director or designee to provide for comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. This position performs advanced duties including the scoring of sleep studies and preparation of preliminary report for physician interpretation completing the process for the final report once signed off by the physician. The Sr Polysomnographic Technologist position conducts sleep studies including advanced and complex procedures performing polysomnography diagnostic and therapeutic services and participates in quality improvement initiatives developing and teaching inservices/programs for others serves as a mentor and resource to Polysomnographic Technologist and students by utilizing skills and knowledge to help train and achieve optimum performance levels. This position works independently exercising sound judgment and executing above average clinical skills on challenging procedures and patient care situations delivering exceptional patient care and adhering 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.

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

• Actively supports the organizations vision fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic team focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement i.e. peertopeer accountability.

• Guides and mentors other Polysomnographic Technologists and students to help build confidence in skills knowledge and abilities. Teaches orients and precepts new technologists. Offers guidance to interprofessional health care team when appropriate and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Facilitates open professional (verbal nonverbal written) communication to achieve mutual understanding role modeling by example. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional providing the highest quality service during every customer and patient encounter. Uses peertopeer accountability towards improvement of department score for turnover/retention/employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the primary person for performing all 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. Ensures collection of appropriate data and in accordance with established protocols and policies and procedures.

• Performs difficult and unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions; analyzing complex situations taking appropriate actions.

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

• Coordinates various activities within the polysomnography department and assumes other duties in the absence of a team lead or as assigned. Serves as a resource for departmentrelated needs such as: specialty equipment or software implementation. Role models accountability and contributes towards improving department score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring studytracing quality to ensure signals are artifactfree. Establishes and documents baseline values observations sleep stages clinical events position changes and other significant events. 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.

• Troubleshoots calibrates and performs preventive maintenance and quality control on all equipment per department guidelines documenting activities. Evaluates sleep study related equipment reporting and documenting malfunctions. Consults with leadership regarding technical issues.

• Scores sleep studies including Home Sleep Studies according to guidelines established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and department policies and procedures. Prepares the preliminary detailed polysomnographic report for physician interpretation and completes the process for the final report once physician signoff accomplished.

• Utilizes clinical judgement using an analytical approach. Assists with implementation and teaching of departmentbased safety initiatives and standards of practice. Reports near misses and inputs errors promptly into Patient Safety Net to improve processes. Identifies trends and opportunities for corrective action and process improvement providing recommendations. Contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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

• Evaluates and reports on inventory levels. Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Selfmotivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks optimizing efficiency and other areas according to department specifications.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and presents areas for innovation efficiency and improvement for department projects and shared governance activities. Participates in one or more department committees or subcommittees and facilitates the accomplishment of the goals of the committee or subcommittee. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Completes and updates My Development plan on an ongoing basis.

• Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging students and coworkers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives.

This job description is not intended to be allinclusive; 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

• Three years experience as a Polysomnographic Technologist in a Sleep Disorders laboratory/center

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• RPSGT Registered Polysomnographer Technologist (BRPT) OR
• RRTSDS 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 ongoing 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 coworkers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

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

• Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging/difficult procedures and patient care situations;

• Demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average clinical skills

• 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 coworkers

• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including organizing work flow and actively participating in problemsolving and excellent time management skills

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

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

ONCALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be oncall 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

Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital opened in December 2000 to serve the comprehensive health care needs of the growing community in Northwest Houston. The 310 bed hospital has 23 operating rooms and more than 2100 employees. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has been named a Magnet recognized health care facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Centers (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is Northwest Houstons regional leader in robotic minimallyinvasive surgeries and specializes in cardiology and cardiovascular services neurology neurosurgery orthopedics and sports medicine and comprehensive cancer services. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has a Breast Care Center Cancer Center Imaging Center Infusion Center Sleep Center Surgical Weight Loss Center and operates the largest Childbirth Center in the greater Northwest Houston area.