Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. In accordance with established policies, standards and procedures, the Senior Diagnostic Neurophysiology Technologist performs advanced diagnostic neurophysiology procedures independently. Performs long-term video/EEG monitoring (IM) on patients with intracranially placed electrodes. Performs cortical stimulation studies and intraoperative monitoring in high-risk brainstem and spinal cord surgery. Supervises practical work of student technologists. Prepares preliminary test reports for use in medical diagnosis.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.Performs somatosensory (SEP) and motor evoked potential monitoring (MEP) during high-risk spinal cord surgery. Assists surgeon with intralaminar motor tract stimulation by providing sterilized electrodes, plugging electrodes into stimulator, recording response, and giving feedback on the placement. Labels and measures waveforms. Communicates a factual report to surgeon. Trouble-shoots system when response is lost.
2.Performs advanced intraoperative monitoring, including brainstem cranial nerve monitoring and mapping of the fourth ventricle.
3.Performs electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings during special events such as Sodium Amytal (WADA) testing, SPECT scans and high-resolution EEG studies.
4.Performs intensive EEG monitoring (IM) on patients with scalp and intracranially placed electrodes (grid and/or depth electrodes). Assists physician by plugging in grid electrodes and records during direct cortical stimulation studies. Performs electrocorticograms (ECoG) from the exposed cerebral cortex in the operating room.
5.Reviews digital seizure data, identifies segments of interest for physician and saves the segment to disk. Annotates file with EEG and clinical findings. Correlates video of ictal events.
6.Applies electrical stimulation to the penis/clitoris or anus and records pudendal evoked potentials. Applies electrical stimulation to spinal nerve roots and conveys threshold levels and clinical muscular responses to the surgeon during laminectomies, rhizotomies and tethered cord surgeries. Performs EMG/NC in the laboratory, at the bedside, or in the operating room.
7.Performs analogue and digital EEG recordings. During EEG testing, asks patient questions to demonstrate responsiveness and documents patient’s clinical activities during a seizure of other patient emergent situation. Reviews data collected during event. Provides hard copy printout and factual report of clinical and electrical events. Documents video times for archiving and completes appropriate forms.
8.Performs ambulatory monitoring (AM). Applies electrodes and programs hard drive to collect with appropriate parameters as determined by the presenting history. Disconnects patient, transfers collected data to hospital network, and reformats hard drive. Analyses and classifies EEG data.
9.Writes a comprehensive patient history with accumulated information from the patient and/or parent and the medical chart documents. Determines the presenting problem and directs test accordingly. Explains the procedure to patient and family members present and answers any question.
10.Performs video tape archiving by operating dual VCRs and titling equipment to copy seizure segments onto a master tape.
11.Participates in diagnostic computer maintenance including daily archiving of patient data files onto CD ROM, trouble-shooting acquisition station problems, and installation of program upgrades.
12.Administers sedation to patient as prescribed by the patient’s physician when necessary, under supervision.
13.Supervises students in practical work. Evaluates student and provides constructive feedback to Chief Technologist and Medical Director.
14.Performs in-service training of staff technologists in advanced procedures, and of medical students and fellows in basic EEG.
15.Assists Chief Technologist in establishing and maintaining Department procedures, protocols and quality assurance measures.
16.Assists physician or performs clinical research procedures.
17.Assumes responsibilities of the Chief Technologist in his/her absence.
18.Prepares presentations and contributes at conferences relating to electroneurodiagnostic testing.
19.Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience
•Graduation from an approved Electrophysiology Course with certification or a hospital-based training program from an approved institution plus three years recent paediatric experience including a minimum of one year experience monitoring EEG/EPs in the operating room or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience acceptable to the Hospital.
•Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
•Registration with the Canadian or American Board of Registration for Electroencephalograph Technologists (RET or REEGT).
•Registration with the Canadian or American Board of Registered EMG Technologists (RT(EMG) or REDT).
•Registration with the American Board of Registered Evoked Potential Technologists (REPT).
•Registration with the American Board of Registration in Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM).
Skills and Abilities
•Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.
•Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•Ability to operate related equipment.
•Ability to perform under acute emergent situations as of those in the operating room.
•Ability to work independently and to organize and prioritize workload.
•Ability to teach.
•Ability to supervise.