Nov. 11, 2008
HARRISBURG - You can try counting sheep, or counting your blessings. But, if you want real help to improve your sleep, count on a sleep lab staffed by technicians trained by HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College.
Polysomnography, or sleep study, is the medical evaluation of sleep for the purpose of diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. To meet demand in this growing medical field, HACC this fall added an 80-hour Polysomnography Training Program that recently was approved to have module equivalency from the national Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) in McLean, Va.
The program meets for full days on Fridays and Saturdays for a five-week period at the Penn Center, 349 Wisconisco St., Harrisburg. It is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in sleep labs. This program also can be taken by technicians currently working in the field or trainees who are preparing for the registry exam offered by the BRPT.
For the last five years, sleep medicine has been the fastest growing medical field, said Terry Cox, Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), program director and instructor in HACC’s Polysomnography Program. Cox, who also is a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), is a manager at Respitech Medical, Lancaster.
As more and more research shows a link between sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and common illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes, the demand for qualified sleep labs and properly trained sleep technologists has increased rapidly, Cox added.
“This shortage of qualified sleep technicians prompted HACC to develop a new training program to meet the higher educational standards required by this growing medical field,” said Cindy Reiner, HACC’s Director of Noncredit Healthcare Education.
Cox and David Brooks, technical director and instructor in HACC’s Polysomnography Program and assistant manager of clinical services at Respitech Medical, are excited about the ability to provide practical hands-on learning. HACC’s challenging curriculum is a combination of lectures that follow the required online modules and, most importantly, hands-on experience.
"Sleep medicine is in its infancy. There is a lot that is still unknown which makes it an intriguing field. There is always new research and new information coming out," said Cox.
“Improvement in sleep is one of the biggest things you can change in a person’s life. And, it’s often one of the easiest, once identified during a noninvasive six- to eight-hour sleep study,” Cox added.
Students who complete HACC’s Polysomnography Training Program earn a certificate for module equivalency as required by the BRPT for their national registry exam and can earn up to 18 credits toward an associate degree in health science at HACC.
For more information, go to www.hacc.edu, search “health careers” then scroll down to Polysomnography Training Program. You may also contact Cindy Reiner in Noncredit Healthcare Education at 221-1352 or (800) 222-4222, ext. 1352.
