Technologist Courses
Thank you for your interest in the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and Technology. We offer a comprehensive program of study that includes an 80-hour course for entry level sleep technologists entitled Essentials of Sleep Technology: An A-STEP Accredited Course. This course is also designed for allied healthcare professionals who are new to sleep medicine or those who may benefit from a formalized course of study in the field.
The A-STEP curriculum has been developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a comprehensive introduction to sleep technology for the novice technologist. Beginning in 2010, the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) will require completion of an A-STEP course to take the national certification examination and earn the RPSGT credential.
The Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine has developed an A-STEP program ideally suited to the needs of the adult learner.
The first 24 hours of the course are comprised of interactive online modules. You can study at your own pace in the comfort of your home or office. These modules are to be completed prior to the live course. Take advantage of a curriculum that introduces new material and reinforces learning through narration and illustration, practice questions and answers, glossary terms, and key take-away points. Try a Sample A-STEP Lesson.
Enrollees without a healthcare or patient-oriented background will become familiar with concepts and terms that are part of daily interaction in a medical setting. Experienced medical professionals may find that some of the online material is a review, but presented in a new and fresh way focused on the particulars of sleep medicine and technology.
During the 7-day live program, course work focuses on didactic presentations mixed with the practical component of preparing patients for sleep studies, acquiring data, as well as staging and scoring. Faculty for the course include: registered polysomnographic technologists, respiratory therapists, and board certified sleep specialists.
Interested in registering for an upcoming course? Visit our registration page to sign-up for a course. Please note that registrations are accepted for a class beginning 120 days before its start. Space is reserved only by deposit or full payment on a first come, first serve basis. To guarantee a space for your preferred course date, please submit a completed registration form with a deposit of $500. The remaining balance must be paid three weeks prior to the start of the course. The School reserves the right to terminate enrollment, if the unpaid balance is not received prior to the due date.
Cancellations or changes must be received in writing. Cancellations or changes made less than three weeks prior to the course will result in a loss of $500 of the tuition. Those received less than five business days prior to the course will result in Full Forfeiture of Tuition. Please do not finalize travel arrangements until your registration has been confirmed by our office in writing. Please allow four business days for confirmation by e-mail. Confirmations will also be sent out via U.S. Priority Mail. Registrations cannot be confirmed by phone or by fax. Confirmation details for 4-day courses are also posted on the website www.sleepschool.com. If you have any further questions regarding the program, please contact the education staff by e-mail.
Course Content
TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE ESSENTIALS OF SLEEP TECHNOLOGY
- The Role of the Polysomnographic Tech
- Hookup Procedures
- Electrode Placement
- Instrumentation
- Tech Documentation
- Artifact Recognition and Correction
- CPAP - Clinical Interface and Titration
- Sleep Stage Scoring
- Normal Sleep
- Limb Movement Disorders
- Sleep Disordered Breathing
- CPAP and Bilevel Titration and Compliance
- Surgical Approaches for Sleep Disordered Breathing
- Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome>
- Recording and Scoring of Respiratory Activity
- Narcolepsy
- MSLT/MWT; Technique, indication and interpretation
- Insomnia
- Parasomnia
- Nocturnal Seizures
- Pediatric Sleep Disorders
- Review of Polysomnograms
- Overview of the Registry Exam Process
ESSENTIALS OF SLEEP TECHNOLOGY COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To introduce and review basic medical terminology and medical concepts
- To introduce and review basic sleep medicine and sleep technology terminology and concepts
- To recognize and describe the purpose and use of equipment in polysomnography
- To demonstrate accepted standards of electrode and sensor placement
- To recognize and describe the fundamental rules of polysomnographic analysis
- To explore and assess the role of the technologist in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient with sleep related breathing disorders
- To examine normal sleep and sleep disorders from a multi-disciplinary medical perspective.
Pre-Requisites
- High School Diploma or GED.
- Basic computer skills
Target Audience:
This course is designed for individuals without experience who wish to enter the field of sleep technology. It is also appropriate for the new sleep technologist or allied healthcare professional, who seeks an introduction to or review of sleep medicine and polysomnography.
Atlanta courses are offered in our classroom facility at Center Pointe II, 1100 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 580, Atlanta, GA 30342. Technician attendees will utilize nearby affiliate sleep laboratories for the practical hands-on component of the course.