Provision of Care

• Sleep study labs provide services for patients of all ages. Medically unstable patients should have a nurse in attendance while the sleep study is performed. Pediatric patients and patients who need assistance with daily activities are required to have a guardian or caregiver in attendance during the sleep study. Sleep lab staff will schedule the sleep study, although preregistration can be done by the ordering physician or the staff. Pre-study requirements should be reviewed with the patient before the sleep study via an informative brochure and during the reminder telephone call. At admission time, patients will have an assessment completed by the sleep lab technician.
  
  

Technician Responsibilities

• Sleep lab technicians working night shifts are required to organize paperwork for testing to be done that night, review patients' medical records and prepare patient rooms so all equipment is ready when the patient arrives. Technicians also must be available to provide whatever patients need. In the lab, technicians are responsible for turning on and calibrating equipment, having zip disks in place to copy tests, and labeling results with the patients' names.
  
  

Patient Care

• The sleep lab technician will ensure proper placement of electrodes and attend to each patient for the duration of the sleep study. The maximum patient-to-technician ratio is not to exceed two patients to one technician. At the end of the sleep study, the technician will notify the referring physician of the results.
  
  

Infection Control

• Sleep lab technicians are required to follow all infection control policies and procedures. Guidelines for effective hand sanitation to prevent the transmission of bacteria, germs and infections are followed by all lab employees. These guidelines are followed before contact with each patient. A combination of universal precautions and body substance isolation make up the standard precautions for most sleep labs. These precautions apply to all body fluids, secretions and excretions, except sweat. Used linens suspected of having been soiled with any body fluids will be handled in a manner that averts contamination to the lab and other patients.
  
  

Environment of Care

• Safety standards should be maintained by the sleep lab coordinator. The coordinator is also responsible for developing safety rules as well as supervising and training employees in departmental standards. If a safety hazard occurs, the coordinator must notify the safety officer. Employees are required to report unsafe conditions, faulty equipment and safety risks to their supervisors. All equipment and supplies must be properly stored.