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Labs to Avoid
a sleep tech posted this story about his first experiences in the field :
"When I started in sleep, it was a very small independent lab. I knew I was in what is commonly called, "a money mill". I didn't know the term "money mill", but I knew enough to know the set up was as cheap as you could get and still perform test.
The 2 beds were hospital hand me downs that had gone through the Salvation Army before making it to the lab. Forget about siderails and bed head raise or leg lift options. Those parts had probably ended up in a homeless mans tree house somewhere.
Video? Black screens count, don't they? Fans in the rooms? Are you serious!
Control room? Used to be the "back room". Which also just happened to have the only restroom in the building.
Filing/burning disk? did that. Collect co-pay? Yep, me. Computer maintenance? That's me. Troubleshooting...my job. Change sheets? Yep, it's me again Margaret.
So you should have a good picture by now, no big deal really. They even told me when I was hired I had 2 weeks to learn how to score.
LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!! Well guess what? I did it. They had a licensed RRT, RPSGT review my studies and she told them after about 3 months there was no need for her to look at my stuff anymore.
After 6 months I was "signed" off by that same RRT, RPSGT so I requested a raise. The owner told me no, I was hired to be a hook-up monkey. (Yes, that's a quote). I was making $10 hr.
That was many moons ago. That lab closed after I left. I was told they had to because no one would work there. Bummer, wonder why?"
"When I started in sleep, it was a very small independent lab. I knew I was in what is commonly called, "a money mill". I didn't know the term "money mill", but I knew enough to know the set up was as cheap as you could get and still perform test.
The 2 beds were hospital hand me downs that had gone through the Salvation Army before making it to the lab. Forget about siderails and bed head raise or leg lift options. Those parts had probably ended up in a homeless mans tree house somewhere.
Video? Black screens count, don't they? Fans in the rooms? Are you serious!
Control room? Used to be the "back room". Which also just happened to have the only restroom in the building.
Filing/burning disk? did that. Collect co-pay? Yep, me. Computer maintenance? That's me. Troubleshooting...my job. Change sheets? Yep, it's me again Margaret.
So you should have a good picture by now, no big deal really. They even told me when I was hired I had 2 weeks to learn how to score.
LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!! Well guess what? I did it. They had a licensed RRT, RPSGT review my studies and she told them after about 3 months there was no need for her to look at my stuff anymore.
After 6 months I was "signed" off by that same RRT, RPSGT so I requested a raise. The owner told me no, I was hired to be a hook-up monkey. (Yes, that's a quote). I was making $10 hr.
That was many moons ago. That lab closed after I left. I was told they had to because no one would work there. Bummer, wonder why?"
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jim Nadolny, BS, CRT on -
No Way! If anyone walks into a lab and it looks like anything other than a comfortable, bedroom like environment...RUN FOR THE HILLS!
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Permalink Reply by Judy on -
I agree! Years ago, 1996-1998, somewhere around in there a sleep neuro sent me to an independent sleep lab. It was in a gorgous older home in my old neighborhood. I was very familiar w/the house tho I had never been inside. I was thrilled to at last get a chance to see it, but disappointed in a way as I was sure they must have done some remodeling and you can't always count on remodelers to preserve the beauty of the original. They hadn't "ruined" the house at all, at least not the downstairs. BEAUTIFUL highly polished old plank floor, beautiful polished woodwork and doorways, impressive stone fireplace with a REAL fire going in it .... eventually tho, one had to go upstairs. Beautfiul stairway and bannisters w/a curve to the left - and then the upstairs. 3 bedrooms, one strewn w/unpacked and partically unpacked boxes where we sat on a hard back chair to have all the leads put on. One small bathroom, now shower or tub and a sink not conducive to washing your hair sitting between the other two bedrooms at the head of the stars. Still the same beautiful, polished wide plank floors and woodwork, but the two bedrooms bare except for the beds, not even a nightstand in the bedroom I was in. The bed was comfortable and clean but .... I made excuses in my mind at the time that this was a new set up and not all the remodeling was done yet, etc. etc. .... UNTIL I got the evaluation PSG report. I refused to go back there for a titration.
The outfit was going national and just a few years ago the owners were convicted of welfare fraud pertaining to thier multiple sleep labs in various parts of the country.
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http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=+A01010%09%09&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y
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Go to Official Site of Manhattan A.W.A.K.E. - American Sleep Apnea Association Support Group of New York City at www.ManhattanAwake.org
Hey, curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back. That's why cats have 9 lives, didn't you know??? *wicked grin*
You're my kind of person, Judy. I like how you get the job done.
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