Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technician - UMich Graduate

Dallas, TX, United States

Overview:

Under supervision of the clinical manager, performs preoperative assessment of patient, conducts intraoperative sensory and motor tests using currently accepted electrophysiological techniques. Compiles real-time collection and interpretation of data and completes post-operative reports and billing forms. The purpose for this testing is to reduce the incidence of stroke, paresthesia, impotence, incontinence, and paralysis as a post-operative surgical outcome.

Locations (subject to change):

Long Beach/Orange County, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Tyler, TX

San Antonio, TX

Shreveport, LA

Columbus, OH

Responsibilities:

Patient Consultation

Explains test procedures so they are understandable to the patient and any family members that are present.

Measures and accurately applies recording electrodes in a timely manner, according to the international 10-20 Electrode Placement System.

IOM Equipment Setup

Calibrates, evaluates, and adjusts equipment, optimizing recording and stimulation parameters, to acquire salient data and information.

Implements appropriate troubleshooting methods, such as adjusting stimulation, to assure accurate recording of information.

Keeps equipment clean and in proper working order, reporting technical malfunctions to supervisor and/or manufacturer.

Intraoperative Monitoring

During surgery, interacts with surgical team and surgeons to provide interpretive data regarding the patients neurological status.

Identifies and eliminates physiological and non-physiological artifacts.

Recognizes normal patterns, normal variants, and abnormal patterns; understands the medical and pharmacological/anesthetic conditions that influence all recording IOM modalities (e.g., EP, BAER, MEP, Etc.); understands the clinical correlations between abnormal evoked potentials and various disease states.

Documentation

Displays, prints, and labels waveforms to hard copy for interpretation marking, measuring, and calculating information such as latencies, voltages, and conduction times following established National Neuromonitoring Services guidelines and protocols.

Accurately documents significant events and stages of surgery in a timely manner, completes all IOM logs, files, and work/technical sheet, including a technical description of the IOM modality recorded, with emphasis on the clinical observations in order to assist the neurologists and/or designated MD with the final interpretation.

Additional Duties

Following completion of training, assists new IOM technicians

If workload allows, attends scientific courses and seminars for continuing education.

Performs additional duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Corporate staff

Other Requirements

Must maintain professional appearance.

Ability to be at work on a regular and consistent basis

Working Conditions

Possible exposure to communicable diseases and hazardous materials with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followed.

The use of protective clothing such as surgical clothing, gloves, glasses, and masks (PPE).

Work requires lifting supplies, pushing, or carrying bulky pieces of equipment.

Occasional/frequent travel by motor vehicle and/or air transportation to healthcare facilities located in both urban and rural areas.

Variable work schedules that may change from week to week, depending on case load, surgeons availability, creating situations that may require minimal notice to be available for a case.

Will require cell phone availability for scheduled on-call time during weekends to cover add-on, elective, or emergency cases.

Usually working independently of other Technologists.

Physical demands would include lifting and transporting 40-45lbs of monitoring equipment to each facility utilizing proper lifting techniques.

Qualifications: Must hold a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Program.

Must hold a valid drivers license.

Must have current AHA CPR certification.

Skills/Specialized Knowledge

Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuroanatomy, pathologic processes, and aseptic techniques.

Knowledge of procedures followed in conducting electrophysiological tests and examinations on patients.

Knowledge of electrophysiological equipment used in performing tests on patients.

Ability to analyze various electronic and neurophysiologic waveforms.

Interpersonal communication skills necessary to interact with medical staff, patients, visitors, and other hospital employees.

Ability to stand, turn and stoop among several types of equipment in an operating room suite.

Ability to apply different types of electrodes to a patients anatomy with precision and speed in preparation of monitoring a surgical procedure.

Ability to sit for extended periods of time, while concentrating on monitoring computer screen images during a surgical procedure.