Sleep Technology

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. 

Rui de Sousa, RPSGT, RST, is a polysomnographic technologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. He has been a longtime advocate for sleep technologists everywhere, setting up a Facebook page to offer assistance and forums for techs. His passion for the field of sleep medicine is apparent to all those around him, and he uses his skills to help techs, give them a voice and assist new members with the AAST Membership Committee.

Sleep spindles are an information processing and transferring feature of the sleeping brain. With that in mind, AAST gathered together leading sleep-care professionals to discuss hot topics in the field — transferring information from them to you. AAST board member Allen Boone, RPSGT, RST, CCRA, CCRC, hosts this four-part video series. In our fourth and final installment, we have an interview with fellow board member Brendan Duffy, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, and Past President Laura A. Linley, RST, RPSGT, CRTT, on the topic of the need for ongoing education.  

Sleep technologists are a valuable part of the sleep science community. They work to educate, evaluate and treat sleep disorder patients of all ages, and are specially trained to identify polysomnographic services that are safe, aseptic, preventive and restorative.

Every sleep professional knows that getting the right equipment (and getting it to work right) is crucial for any patient. Sometimes the companies that make durable medical equipment (or DMEs) are extremely helpful when working with patients, while others are not. We asked some of our members to explain their relationship working with DMEs, for better or for worse.

Sleep spindles are an information processing and transferring feature of the sleeping brain. With that in mind, AAST gathered together leading sleep-care professionals to discuss hot topics in the field — transferring information from them to you. AAST board member Allen Boone, RPSGT, RST, CCRA, CCRC, hosts this four-part video series. In our third installment, we have an interview with fellow board members Laree J. Fordyce, RST, RPSGT, CCSH, and Brendan Duffy, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, on the topic of talking tech with patients.    

Sleep spindles are an information processing and transferring feature of the sleeping brain. With that in mind, AAST gathered together leading sleep-care professionals to discuss hot topics in the field — transferring information from them to you. AAST board member Allen Boone, RPSGT, RST, CCRA, CCRC, hosts this four-part video series. In our second installment, we have an interview with fellow board members Julie DeWitte, RST, RPSGT, RCP, and Laree J. Fordyce, RST, RPSGT, CCSH, on the topic of why CPAP adherence is so critical.

  Matthew Anastasi, BS, RST, RPSGT, is presenting the breakout session "Management of Complex Patients in the Sleep Lab: The Implications of Severe Obesity” at the AAST 2018 Annual Meeting, Sept. 28-30, 2018, in Indianapolis. We caught up with Anastasi to discuss his background and the future of sleep medicine.

Jessica Schmidt, RPSGT, CCSH, FACHE, is presenting the breakout session "The Field of Sleep Medicine in the Context of the American Healthcare Landscape” at the AAST 2018 Annual Meeting, Sept. 28-30, 2018, in Indianapolis. We caught up with Schmidt to discuss her background and the future of sleep medicine.