Sleep Technology

Lean manufacturing originated in Japan, where Toyota developed the Toyota Production System as a way to organize its manufacturing and logistics. Since then, many other organizations have adopted the Toyota Way, including sleep centers. While those who work in sleep centers aren’t making cars, the concepts are applicable and useful.

In Part I of this article from the Q2 issue of 2018, I discussed the emerging and growing technology of the sleep medicine community. I also talked about the mantra of that time as “entering the field on the cutting edge of technology that would revolutionize the field of sleep medicine.” Just a few decades ago, there were no state licensure laws or any “real” credentialing requirements. And, of course, no HIPAA laws, either.

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  That article was retracted, has been edited, and will be re-published in the Quarter Two 2019 edition of A2Zzz, conveying the important message that the AAST and BRPT continue to work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.

Patients drinking alcohol is not something that would normally happen before a medical visit. But in sleep medicine, sometimes it might be the key to getting the best snapshot of a patient’s sleep ailments.

I’m sure you read the title and wondered “What does Snapchat have to do with filling beds in a sleep center?” Bunny ears and limb leads? Location filters and 10-20 paste? I hope this article will help connect the two.

This is the fourth article in a series on the changing face of sleep technology. The past three articles focused on technology and the economy. This article focuses on how all these changes could directly impact the future sleep technologist.

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.

Sleep technologists have an important and wide-ranging job. They care for patients with sleep disorders, which can encompass comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders, including in-center polysomnographic testing and out-of-center sleep testing; diagnostic and therapeutic interventions; comprehensive patient care; and direct patient education.

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.