APT Practice Parameter for Standard Polysomnography APT ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Publication of the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists • 2006, Volume 15, Number 4 • www.aptweb.orgQuestions About Recertification?Part one of a two-part series on RPSGTs and recertificationQ. Why did the BRPT change the policy to require recertificationevery 5 years?A. The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)is a credentialing body and as such owes a duty to the public as well asto RPSGTs. To ensure patient safety it is important for us to make everyattempt to assure that RPSGTs are properly trained and qualified. Astime goes on, every medical profession expands and adapts to new technologyand science and the field of sleep technology is no exception.We are also helping RPSGTs when we protect and promote the credential.State (and in some cases Federal) regulatory decision-makersincreasingly look to validated credentials in making decisions regardingthe practice of many allied health professions including sleep technology.The BRPT has an obligation to protect, promote and defend the RPSGTcredential and strengthen its value.Today, an allied health field such as polysomnography must providesome credible measure of continued competency which is documentedin order to sustain its value. Ultimately, a rigorous exam and a strongrecertification program will benefit the profession of polysomnographyand will help ensure that the RPSGT is the credential of choice for technologistsperforming sleep studies.Q. I’m a “grandfathered” RPSGT and someone on my staff isunder the 10-year recertification plan. Do the new recertification policiesaffect us?A. Yes! All RPSGTs must now certify every 5 years in order to retainthe use of their credential including those who were previously “grandfathered”or those who were under the 10-year recertification policy.Unless you already voluntarily “switched-early,” your 5-year recertificationperiod is effective January 1, 2007. (If you wrote to BRPT in the pastfew months requesting an earlyswitch,then your 5-year periodbegins from the date yourequested the switch.)Q. Where can I find a listof approved courses that offercontinuing education hours?A. At the BRPT web site youmay click on the Recertificationand Continuing Education buttonand then click on ContinuingEducation. A link is provided tothe APT web site where coursesapproved by the APT are listed.In addition, the BRPT isworking with other organizationsto expand the courses listedand is maintaining a list onthe web site of known creditgrantingorganizations as wellas courses reviewed for applicabilityto the recertificationhours. Most important toRequired for RPSGTRecertification = 50 continuingeducation hours every 5 yearsBRPT recommends earning 10continuing education hours peryear to meet your total requirementof 50 continuing educationhours required in 5 years.Note: You must earn a minimumof 5 per year, but yourtotal at the end of your 5-yearrecertification period still musttotal 50. (BRPT is allowing youto earn less than 10 someyears in order to accommodatethose who have a year or twowhen circumstances such as illness,family matters, or maternityleave, make it difficult toearn 10 in any particular year.remember — as long as your hours are earned from activities approvedby a credit-granting organization AND the hours are directly related tothe duties of a sleep technologist, those hours would likely be acceptablefor recertification.Q. I live in a remote area. Are there ways for me to earn hourswithout attending a sleep conference?A. Yes. For example, the APT offers hours forreading the A2Zzz Magazine by signing up on theirsite so you can get an assessment tool for eachedition. Fees for those who aren’t members of APTmay apply. The link to their page iswww.aptweb.org/CECProgramCalendar.asp. Otherways of earning hours include in-service or casestudy training programs and online courses. If yourinstitution already holds this kind of session,encourage administration to pursue obtaining creditsfrom a credit-granting organization for thesemeetings. BRPT’s Education Advisory Committee isworking with other organizations to ensure theexpansion of these options as well. Check thewww.brpt.org website for updated listings.Q. Does it matter how many continuing educationhours I obtain each year?34A. Yes! While BRPT recommends that you earn10 each year during your 5-year recertificationperiod — thereby accumulating 50 total, be➟
Publication of the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists • 2006, Volume 15, Number 4 • www.aptweb.orgadvised that under the new rules, it is required that you earn a minimumof 5 continuing education hours each year. If at the end of the 5-yearperiod when the recertification application is reviewed, the minimum of5 hours per year are not documented, your recertification by continuingeducation hours will not be approved. Your option to maintain your credentialat that point would be to retake and pass the current RPSGTexamination within 3 months following your recertification date.Q. What if I do not recertify?A. If you don’t recertify within ninety days after the date your recertificationis due, you will no longer have the right to use the RPSGT credential.Q. Can I retake the exam to recertify?A. Yes, absolutely. While the BPRT encourages continuing educationon an ongoing basis, you may recertify by taking and passing the RPSGTexam. If you choose this option, we recommend you take the exam 6months before your recertification deadline to allow for any possibleretesting. Normal examination fees will apply under this option.Q. How should I keep track of my continuing education hours andwhat documentation do I need?A. The BRPT has a form online at our web site that is strictly anoptional sample form that can be used. You do not have to use this form,it is available if you would like to use it. Normally all that is required fordocumentation is a copy of the signed certificate of hours earned. Forcourses where only part of the course meets the applicability of beingrelated to the duties of a polysomnographic technologist, or for courseswhere the content is not clear from the certificate copy you should alsoattach a course outline or course content document. (use pdfs of coverof Recertification Guidelines to illustrate, if needed)More questions about recertification? Look for Part Two of thisseries in the next issue of A2Zzz Magazine, or visit the BRPT Website at www.brpt.org to read the entire “Recertification Guidelines.”For more information, call (703) 610-9020, or visit www.brpt.org. ★Q. How do I know if a course or activity is acceptable for RPSGTcontinuing education hours?A. If the activity has been granted hours by the APT, these hours areacceptable if the activity has been granted hours by another credit-grantingorganization and the activity is directly related to the duties of a sleeptechnologist it should be acceptable.Policy and Procedure Manualfor Sleep Disorders CentersAPT is proud to present a Policy and Procedure Manual forSleep Disorders Centers. At the request of the APT Board ofDirectors, the Standards and Guidelines Committee created areference manual to assist sleep disorders center personnel inthe development of their own policy and procedure manual.This manual provides sample forms and policies, jobdescriptions and core competencies for the Sleep TechnologyProfession. The manual is intended to provide a standardizedguideline in the development of a policy and proceduremanual to quantify service and performance that ultimatelydelivers quality patient care.Order form page 37!35
Page 1 and 2: PUBLICATION OF THE APTASSOCIATION O
Page 3 and 4: Publication of the Association of P
Page 5 and 6: APT NewZzzPublication of the Associ
Page 20 and 21: The APT wishes to acknowledge andth
Page 22 and 23: A New Look...A New Name... American
Page 32 and 33: Technical CornerPublication of the
Page 36 and 37: NewZzz BriefsPublication of the Ass
Page 38 and 39: Product Order FormPublication of th
Page 40 and 41: SleepLand CalendarPublication of th
Page 44: NEW CATALOGNOW AVAILABLE!®ALL THE

APT Practice Parameter for Standard Polysomnography APT ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?