Polysomnography Fundamentals is a comprehensive course designed to meet the needs of the beginner or experienced technologist and cross-training allied health professionals seeking to improve their knowledge and skills and / or prepare for the national registry examination.
A brief discussion of the discovery of sleep disorders and the invention of polysomnography will help you appreciate the evolution of this fascinating discipline. Following this a detailed review of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders will lay the foundation for the rest of this dynamic course.
A preview of the variables recorded in a routine polysomnogram will be discussed preparing you for a more detailed look at these variables later in the course.
Sleep will be defined and a medical approach to the patient with disordered sleep will be discussed. The more common disorders will be addressed in detail and include Insufficient Sleep Syndrome, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Narcolepsy, Sleep-Wake Schedule Disturbances, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, and Parasomnias. A detailed explanation of normal sleep will become the foundation for a clearer understanding of disorders of sleep. Accompanying this is an overview of brain structures and physiologic mechanisms of sleep.
You will increase your knowledge and skill in the use of the instrument by learning the digital concepts of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC). Horizontal resolution will cover sampling rate, dwell time, sampling skew, and aliasing. Vertical resolution will address bit capacity as it relates to the vertical resolution capability of an instrument. You will also learn sensitivity, amplifiers (digital amplification and differential amplifiers), monitor speed and montage reformatting. Other topics of discussion include standard instrument settings, how and when to make adjustments, and the effect of various instrument setting changes on the variables used to record the polysomnogram.
A comprehensive introduction of normal sleep architecture will be followed by a discussion of the characteristics of the various sleep stages. Non-REM Stages Wake, 1, 2, 3 & 4, along with Stage REM will be discussed in detail and polysomnographic examples will illustrate how these variables, viewed collectively, provide diagnostic information regarding normal and / or abnormal sleep. The new AASM Sleep Scoring Guidelines (each student receives a complimentary copy) will be the reference for this discussion. Hands-on scoring will comprise a large portion of the course with numerous practice opportunities. Scoring of EEG Arousals will also be included. You will learn to tabulate recorded data.
Lecture followed by hands-on workshops throughout the week will provide you the knowledge and skills to properly apply recording electrodes for an all-night polysomnogram. Scalp electrodes are applied according to the International 10 – 20 System of Electrode Placement and a detailed explanation and a step-by-step walk-through on styrofoam heads with the instructor will give you the knowledge and skill needed to accurately and securely apply electrodes to record brain activity (EEG). In addition, you will learn where and how to properly apply electrodes for recording eye movements (EOG), chin and limb muscle activity (EMG), as well as respiration (airflow, thorax, and abdomen) and cardiac signals (ECG). Using a polysomnograph machine you will partner with another student and practice applying a full array of electrodes and recording the polysomnogram.
An overview of technologist competencies as related to polysomnography will be presented. Included will be information pertaining to patient preparation, patient safety, documentation, patient instructions, professionalism and medical ethics.
Anatomical structures related to breathing will be presented in lecture. This will provide a foundation for understanding the more common respiratory abnormalities seen in the Sleep Laboratory and the distinguishing characteristics of respiratory scoring.
You will learn how to identify and score the respiratory related events of obstructive, central, and mixed apneas. You will also learn to calculate the various indexes related to respiratory scoring to include the Apnea and Hypopnea Indexes and the combined Respiratory Disturbance Index. The affect of oxygen desaturation on the patient and how it is recorded on the polysomnogram will be addressed. What you learn here will be combined with Sleep Stage Scoring to give you several opportunities to practice scoring the entire polysomnogram.
The polysomnographic technologist must be proficient in recognizing pre-existing or ECG abnormalities that may occur during the all-night study. You will learn the different structures of the heart and how connecting pathways contribute to the electrical signal generated by the heart, the ECG. You will learn to accurately and quickly identify normal and abnormal ECGs. Life threatening arrhythmias will be highlighted.
A detailed presentation will be given on periodic limb movement disorder along with a polysomnographic description of such movements. You will learn the primary symptoms, demographics, and severity and treatment of the disorder. A thorough review of proper electrode placement, instrument parameters, and classification of limb movements related to scoring will be covered.
You will learn the criteria for scoring PLMs and how to tabulate your findings.
You will learn when and how to perform these studies. You will attain the skills to tabulate the results for later interpretation by a polysomnographer.
You will gain a basic understanding of the various therapeutic interventions of CPAP, BiPAP & 02 administration used during the course of a sleep study. You will learn how proper mask fitting is vital to a patient’s tolerance of the interventions.
You will learn to recognize and troubleshoot different artifacts encountered during the recording of the polysomnogram. These artifact sources include the electrode, patient, instrument, and environment.
It is the primary responsibility of the monitoring technologist to ensure patient safety at all times. Topics addressed include medical emergency plans, care of the patient related to cardiac, medical, respiratory, neurologic and behavioral emergencies. Also included is a discussion on electrical safety, infection control & general guidelines for night shift alertness.
The generation of an accurate sleep report is required of the technologist. The various calculations and indexes will be reviewed followed by your personal tabulation of this information. You will learn the formulas the computer uses to calculate this data.
The course concludes with a general review and answering final questions. A self assessment examination will be administered and after everyone has completed the test we will review each question and provide the correct answer. No one sees your test but you, not even the instructors. It is only used as a guide to help you assess your knowledge and skills acquired at the course.
Cost: $2,795.00
