Sleep Technology

Dr. Gerald “Jerry” George Mannikarote, MBBS, MBA, RPSGT, is a healthcare sales and marketing professional with previous experience working in the clinical aspect of the sleep field. Currently, he serves on AAST’s CEC Accreditation Committee. AAST recently caught up with Mannikarote to discuss his love for AAST and how being a member has benefited his life both personally and professionally.

Kristina Davis, RPSGT, RST, is a polysomnography technology program director at Coahoma Community College and currently serves on AAST’s CEC Accreditation Committee. We recently spoke with Davis about her love for AAST and how being a member has been a valuable part of her life.

Brendan Duffy, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, is a certified sleep educator at the St. Charles Hospital Sleep Disorders Center. He currently serves on multiple AAST committees including the Strategic Content Council and Membership Advisory Council.  AAST recently spoke with Duffy about the value of being a member and how being involved with AAST has impacted his career.

Byron Jamerson, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, is a sleep educator at Nox Medical and has over 30 years of experience in the field. He is passionate about education and currently on the AAST CEC Accreditation Committee. AAST recently spoke with Jamerson to discuss his involvement with AAST and how being a member has been a valuable part of his life.

Kristina Weaver, RPSGT, is the neurodiagnostic manager for Parrish Healthcare’s Sleep Disorders Center. She has been involved in sleep medicine for 13 years. Prior to that, she was a paramedic. Weaver is the coordinator of Brevard AWAKE. She also serves as the past president of the Florida Association of Sleep Technologists and is on the AAST Board of Directors.

Have you ever heard anyone say management is easy? I have been a manager for 10 years now, and I can attest to the immense challenges that come with the job. Most managers do not have any real management training and are frequently asked to lead a team because of their display of confidence in knowledge, ability to delegate and their interactive communication skills. But sometimes using those skills as an individual employee don’t translate to using them as a manager.

Authors: BRPT President Jessica Schmidt, MA, FACHE, RPSGT, CCSH, and AAST President Rita Brooks, MEd, RPSGT, REEG/EPT, FAAST Editor’s Note: An article entitled "How to Survive a BRPT Audit" ran in the Quarter One 2019/Volume 28/Number 01 edition of A2Zzz magazine. The intent of the article was to remind sleep technologists that they are responsible for assuring they have the appropriate continuing education credits to maintain their credentials and to explain the audit process.  Unfortunately, the article unintentionally contained misleading and, in a number of cases, incorrect information, which was confirmed by reviewing message history, document uploads and login records that are tracked and time-stamped in BRPT’s certification database.  That article was retracted, has been edited, and will be re-published in the Quarter Two 2019 edition of A2Zzz, conveying the important message that the AAST and BRPT continue to work together to assure that correct information is consistently provided for our members and credential holders. The revised article and the information that follows below provide an accurate description of recertification responsibilities and the recertification audit as well as tips for facilitating a smooth and efficient audit process.

On Aug. 8, 2018, Carecentrix released its criteria for determining the medical necessity for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing in adults and children. I wanted to take this opportunity to review their guideline for home sleep apnea testing (HSAT).

I was one of the lucky “birthday” winners to receive a free copy of Meir Kryger’s latest book, “The Mystery of Sleep,” at the AAST meeting in Indianapolis last fall. TMoS is touted as “an authoritative and accessible guide to what happens when we shut our eyes at night.” Indeed, I found the format, tone and relevance of Kryger’s book to live up to the hype.

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.