"please keep me updated about oximeters "

AARC In A Twit About Current Legislation Rescinding Part of the Scope of RTs and Sleep Therapy

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) states that current legislation addressing sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment threatens to legally rescind part of the scope of practice of respiratory therapy.

What part of sleep disorder diagnosis do RTs have?? To my knowledge the ONLY part RTs had in sleep therapy was the set up of the xPAPs, fitting of masks, advice, support, etc. of patients. I had NO IDEA that RTs had ANY part in Dx'ing any sleep disorders!!!

The article I read didn't detail what scope RTs currently have regarding sleep disorder diagnoses. I wish they had!!

Given that so many local DME RTs often really don't know and understand the xPAPs they provide, especially the fully data capable xPAPs, other than what is on the Quick SetUp Guide, and so many don't seem to know how to do a proper mask fitting .... some extra training and qualifications don't sound like a bad idea at all to me!!!

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on July 1, 2009 at 5:50pm

Oh by the way my best day in sleep was the day i was able to interpret the story behind the wiggly lines. This was the day i new that I had found the llast job I will ever have.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on July 2, 2009 at 9:08am

And "we" appreciate your taking the time to present "your" side of the profession, Cindy. I "think", and could be wrong, that YOU are our only dual RRT/RPSGT contributing to the forum. (Or at least the most "vocal" *wicked grin*). Please continue to do so!

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on August 2, 2009 at 8:06am

The Sleep Field got its start around 1968. That was when the first sleep symposium was given. Sleep was based in Neurology and most of the treatments and studies were for the parasomnias: Night Terrors, Somnambulism, REM behavior disorders, Narcolepsy, Sleep Paralysis etc. There are some 80 plus different sleep disorders. Respiratory Therapist had schools in the 70s and earlier I am sure but many were OJT until the early 80s that’s about the time CPAP machines hit the market. Still Most RTs were too busy with breathing treatments, Vent settings the life or death at the moment stuff.
Around 1993 to 1995 the polysomnogram was gaining notoriety and found to be a great revenue generator for Hospitals. It was at this time we seen more RT’s coming into sleep.
The RT is trained to cover Advanced Pulmonary issues. The RPSGT is trained in Cardiac, Neuro, basic Pulmonary, psychology and nursing fundamentals. The very word Polysomnogram breaks down in translation to mean Many Sleep Pictures. The RPSGT is maxed with two patients in rare situations up to three. We look at everything from Pulse Transients Times, PTAF, EEG, ECG, SpO2 etc. EEG and breathing also is different for different growth development processes in humans. A seasoned “Technologist” can be utilized to aid in the care of patients and used to train Technicians. A Sleep Technician is a trainee. There have been times when an RT has called for one of us RPSGT to help with a mask fit on the patient floor. Its not that we are better we just deal with it more often. True in that one area the Roll of the RT and RPSGT blur just a bit. RTs are a different field and discipline altogether. I certainly could not do their job. A fresh RT couldn’t do my job either.

Mike said:

why isn't it the sleep tech? is it because it's not in their job description yet and don't get paid for it yet (totally understandable if that's the case, by the way), or is it because sleep techs lack the expertise?

Rock Hinkle said:
It is definatley not this sleep tech. Not yet anyway.

Mike said:
my ultimate question is who is best equipped to deal with tweaks/modifications to the mask interface and machine and to troubleshoot patients' problems, which inevitably arise. we know it's not the sleep doctor; we know it's not the DME (except for Daniel Levy -- who is in a league of his own), so the question is who is it?

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on August 2, 2009 at 8:14am

True many people do not know what an RPSGT is, they know us as sleep techs, the term sleep Tech sours my milk, many years ago we were called Sleep Therapist and that had a better ring to it.

Mike said:

if RPSGTs are the heros of sleep medicine, and I'm not saying they aren't, then they certainly are the unsung heros. after all, most people don't even know what RPSGT stands for: Registered Polysomnographic Technician or Technologist. so here's the question: what makes them special? I mean from an outside perspective: what qualities/traits do they have that make them stand head and shoulders apart in sleep medicine? is it how they're paid? how they're trained? the types of experiences they have in the sleep lab? what explains it?

Judy said:
Uh uh, Mike. Aside from our gracious RTs in this forum, it is the RPSGTs that I consider the real heroes of sleep medicine!!

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on August 2, 2009 at 12:44pm

I prefer Sleep Medicine Technologist.

D. W. Conn said:

True many people do not know what an RPSGT is, they know us as sleep techs, the term sleep Tech sours my milk, many years ago we were called Sleep Therapist and that had a better ring to it.

Mike said:
if RPSGTs are the heros of sleep medicine, and I'm not saying they aren't, then they certainly are the unsung heros. after all, most people don't even know what RPSGT stands for: Registered Polysomnographic Technician or Technologist. so here's the question: what makes them special? I mean from an outside perspective: what qualities/traits do they have that make them stand head and shoulders apart in sleep medicine? is it how they're paid? how they're trained? the types of experiences they have in the sleep lab? what explains it?

Judy said:
Uh uh, Mike. Aside from our gracious RTs in this forum, it is the RPSGTs that I consider the real heroes of sleep medicine!!

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Permalink Reply by Duane McDade on August 4, 2009 at 3:55am

WOW! THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HITS ON THIS TOPIC..... I LIKE THE TITLE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNICIAN. WE DO DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES AND TREATMENTS, SOMETIMES IN THE SAME NIGHT. RT'S SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT, THEY ALSO SHOW FOLKS HOW TO USE OXEGEN, MISTERS, ETC, ETC,..... ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS GOD BLESS ANYONE WHO MAKES THE CHOICE TO HELP OTHERS. THIS GOES FOR RT's TOO! HEALTH AND PEACE TO EVERYONE........DUANE