Sleep Disorders | strange sleep
Sleepwalking, yelling in your sleep, violently thrashing in bed and hurting those you love. No, it’s not a demonic possession; it is REM sleep behavior disorder, or RBD. RBD is a sleep disorder that common presents itself in older men and causes people who suffer from it to physically act out their dreams. Its cause is unknown, but its effects can be terrifying.
It’s not uncommon these days to see people walking down the street with a FitBit or an Apple Watch. These wearables can track a slew of things: your steps, calories burned, your heart rate. They also can track your sleep. But what does that mean? And is the data it collects valuable in any sort of way?
Sleep Disorders | strange sleep
What does a German fairytale and a severe sleep disorder have in common? A lot, apparently.
It seems like every industry is being changed by artificial intelligence, or AI.
Michael G. Eden, RPSGT, RST, has been working in sleep medicine for 23 years and became an RPSGT in 1998. Eden has worked for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario as a task force member, creating legislation for all sleep clinics in Ontario. He has been on the executive board of the Canadian Sleep Society and chairs the Education Committee. Eden has been on the Scientific and Technologist Planning Committee for both the Canadian Sleep Society and the World Sleep Society, planning international meetings. He has been on the CEC Committee for AAST for the past two years. Recently, he was elected to the AAST Board of Directors. It is his pleasure to serve the sleep community in any capacity, but education and patient advocacy are key elements to his work.
As technology improves, so does a sleep technicians’ ability to help their patients. As sleep tests are getting more mobile, sleep professionals are seeing a shift in in clinic versus home sleep testing (HST). We posed a question to the AAST membership: What percentage of your sleep tests are occurring at home, and is this an increasing trend among your patients?
It was an exciting year for AAST. This year on our blog, we covered a diverse number of topics: from how sleep affects elite athletes to managing relationships with companies that make durable medical equipment (DMEs). Let’s take a look back at the most-read articles from 2018.
Kaitlin McClurg graduated from the Polysomnography Program in 2015 from Alvin Community College in Texas where she became credentialed as an RPSGT before graduation. She continued on and graduated from the Neurodiagnostic Program in 2016 to make herself more marketable. She also received her license as an R.EEGT shortly after graduation. She was able to receive all of her training from the Houston Medical Center throughout both programs. She was presented with the opportunity to tutor the 2016 Polysomnography Program students to prepare them for the boards while she was still continuing my EEG education. The skills and knowledge she gained from her experience in Houston prepared me for situations she would encounter as a travel tech in 2017. She took a full time job in the sleep lab in her home state of Montana, where she is able to pursue both career paths.
Debbie Guerrero is currently the program coordinator and full-time faculty for the CAAHEP-accredited Sleep Technology Associate Degree Program at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois. Debbie developed and started the then certificate PSG program in 2002. She served as the president of the Illinois Sleep Society; was a board member for the CoA PSG, where she continues to volunteer as a site visitor; and is currently a reviewer for the upcoming edition of “Fundamentals of Sleep Technology.” Debbie is proud of her sleep technology program graduates and the positive impact they have within the sleep community in the Chicago area and beyond.
