Course description
What is sleep medicine technology?
A lack of sleep can impair work performance and put you at increased risk for accidents, injuries, and health problems. Fatigue has been linked to many of the most notorious incidents of our time, including the Exxon Valdez, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island, not to mention up to 25 percent of all highway accidents. Sleep Medicine Technologists identify sleep disorders and aid in their treatment using state-of-the-art software and computer technology.
Why become a Sleep Medicine Technologist?
* Variety. Sleep Medicine Technologists interact with patients and work with sophisticated computerized medical equipment.
* Reduced Stress. The field of sleep medicine is not as fast paced or urgent as many acute and critical care positions.
Career Opportunities
The demand for Sleep Medicine Technologists is growing due to an increase in the number of Canadians diagnosed with disorders such as sleep apnea. Sleep Medicine Technologists are currently employed in hospitals, private laboratories, clinical and research settings and the growing home care field.
How long does it take?
This intensive three-week program is held at Michener. It combines three-hour (morning) lectures with four-hour (afternoon) practical sessions for the first two weeks, plus one week of scoring.
What will I learn?
This full-time theoretical and practical course provides intensive practice in the skills required for performance and scoring of sleep studies. Lecture material and laboratory exercises are tightly integrated, and emphasis is placed on preparing students to perform sleep studies during the clinical phase of their education. Students work with polygraphs, computerized sleep recording systems, and other devices that are commonly used in sleep laboratories.
* Calibrate, set-up and troubleshoot sleep equipment
* Perform patient setup for sleep study
* Perform and monitor overnight sleep study
* Score sleep records
* Perform CPAP setup and titration
Evaluation is based upon the performance of skills demonstrated during a simulated sleep study. In addition, there is a comprehensive written examination at the end of the course that will test knowledge of physiology, sleep disorders, equipment, and scoring sleep records. After passing both the written and practical exams, students will be eligible to proceed to the clinical phase.
