23 May 2006

New Polysomnography Program Teaches Students Sleep Lab Techniques

Nica Ochuba of Birmingham serves as the test subject for the new diagnostic equipment, which is applied by instructor Lisa Tarvin.

HANCEVILLE, AL-- The polysomnography technologist, or sleep lab technician, program recently took its new diagnostic equipment on a test run.

   The newest health program at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville received the equipment and software at the end of the spring semester and began training staff on how to use the data collection system.

   The equipment measures and collects brain waves, breathing patterns and limb movement to help diagnose patients’ sleep disorders.

   “This is state-of-the-art equipment will enable our students to be trained on the most current equipment,” said program director Dr. Ken Crow. “This will allow students to go seamlessly from here to the field.”

   Nica Ochuba of Birmingham is a student in the polysomnography technologist program and was the guinea pig for the first sleep study.

   Sleep diagnostics usually take place during the nighttime hours, but due to the training, this study took place during the day.

   Ochuba fought sleep until all the electrodes were connected and the equipment was ready for the study.

The polysomnography equipment measures and collects brain waves, breathing patterns and limb movement to help diagnose patients’ sleep disorders.

   “I had clinicals last night, so I’m ready to sleep,” she said. Working at night is not very difficult for Ochuba. “Around 3 a.m. everyone starts getting a little sleepy. But as long as you have coffee, you’re OK.”

   Instructor Lisa Tarvin used a connective gel to attach the electrodes to Ochuba’s head, arms and legs.

   Once the test was ready to begin, Tarvin asked Ochuba to do a series of activities such as moving her eyes to the left and right, holding her breath, grinding her teeth and flexing her feet. Those activities ensured the equipment was recording properly.

   On hand to install the software and supervise training was Jark Mahonen, a product application specialist for the Sandman Sleep Diagnostics software from Tyco Healthcare in Kanata, Ontario, Canada.

   Students will spend four to six hours a week in the lab learning the equipment. They also will be exposed to equipment when they do clinical rotations.

   The two-semester certificate training prepares students to quickly move to the workforce.

   “This short-term training is attracting a lot of attention,” Crow said. “And since students do clinicals at night, they can still work and go to school.”

   According to recent surveys, there is growing demand for sleep technologists and a shortage of qualified professionals.

   “In our surrounding area, there are projected to be 63 new full-time positions over the next three years and 43 part-time positions in the same time period,” Wallace State Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Nancy Corser said.

   Growth in the number of sleep labs also supports an increasing demand for trained professionals. From three accredited labs in 1975, this industry has grown to 425 accredited labs and more than 2,000 non-accredited labs in 2002.

   A survey was conducted of sleep labs in and around the Wallace State service area. “The vast majority of respondents strongly supported the need for this program,” Corser said.

Jark Mahonen (left), a product application specialist for the Sandman Sleep Diagnostics software from Tyco Healthcare in Kanata, Ontario, Canada was on hand for the equipment installation, along with instructor Lisa Tarvin (seated) and program director Dr. Ken Crow (standing, right).

   “Currently most labs conduct on-the-job training because of the absence of quality educational programs. Interviews with lab directors revealed that the current dearth of qualified lab technicians create a high turnover as technicians are ‘pirated’ by other labs as soon as they are trained,” she said.

   One indicator of polysomnography tech shortages is the delay patients experience in scheduling. According to a recent study, patients experience on average a six- to eight-week delay in patient scheduling of initial, non-emergent sleep studies, which is directly attributable to the shortage of sleep labs and trained technicians. The delay in initial testing plus the additional six– to 12-week delay in interventional studies results in a five month diagnostic period in which waiting patients may experience major adverse events (including automobile accidents, loss of employment, etc.) related to their sleep problem. The delay in sleep studies has been described by some researchers as significant enough to constitute a major public health problem.

   The program will prepare graduates to be successful on the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) Comprehensive Registry Exam after acquiring the work experience to fulfill eligibility requirements.

   Students are admitted to the sleep technology program annually for the fall semester.

   For more information, contact Polysomnographic Technologist program director Dr. Ken Crow at 256/352-8282 or ken.crow@wallacestate.edu.

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  Terri Brunck
  Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8031
  E-mail: Terri.Brunck@WallaceState.edu