This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and may require modification to meet federal and state regulations. This document is intended to serve as a template and be modified to meet individual employer needs.
Position Summary
The Clinical Sleep Health educator works under the general supervision of the medical director or designee to provide comprehensive education, with regard to evaluation, and treatment of sleep disorders, including in center and home sleep apnea diagnostic testing, therapeutic interventions, comprehensive patient care, treatment compliance management, assessment of sleep health outcomes and assists in identifying and supporting possible barriers to care. The clinical sleep health educator is credentialed in sleep technology or other allied health professions that have appropriate training in sleep-related patient management and is able to interact with physicians and other health care providers in a professional manner.
Domains of Practice
- Competency with Practice Parameters and Clinical Guidelines for sleep medicine health care:
- Understand sleep architecture and identify factors contributing to normal sleep variances related to aging, gender and medication.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology of sleep disorders and associated comorbidities.
- Reference current national clinical sleep practice parameters and clinical practice guidelines to develop appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Maintain proficiency in the domains of practice in sleep medicine and technology.
- Demonstrate proficient use of medical terminology.
- Monitor clinical, quality, patient satisfaction and other key regulatory metrics.
- Evaluation and Management of Patient Education and Compliance:
- Collect, analyze, and integrate patient information.
- Competent with specific clinical assessments using standardized diagnostic tools (e.g., Epworth Sleepiness Scale, STOP-BANG, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index).
- Provide all aspects of instruction in caring for patients with sleep disorders. Must have the ability to obtain information regarding patient needs, a knowledge of growth and development, and an understanding of the range of treatment needed by these patients.
- Monitor patient adherence to prescribed treatment.
- Coordinate in center and home sleep apnea diagnostic testing and therapeutic modalities.
- Implement and follow-up on physician orders.
- Communicate effectively and professionally with the patient’s healthcare team regarding new or continued symptoms, treatment concerns, or management of optimal care.
- Develop programs and provide education to assist patients with treatment acclimation and compliance and track health improvement indicators.
- Discuss equipment/supply replacement schedule.
- Comprehensive Understanding of Teaching and Motivational Skills:
- Apply principles of motivational teaching to facilitate patient self-management.
- Demonstrate ability to provide age-appropriate patient education.
- Demonstrate ability to provide appropriate healthcare literacy assessment and teaching based on healthcare literacy level.
- Provide patient education for sleep disorders, comorbidities, therapeutic equipment and processes, therapy options, sleep hygiene and self-help.
- Empower patients, families and caregivers to assume as much responsibility for their care as possible.
- Address tangible barriers to care and refer patient to the appropriate contact for assistance.
- Promote community sleep health.
- Program and Business Management:
- Confirm insurance verification/authorization requirements and patient financial responsibility.
- Utilize electronic medical records programs.
- Maintain accurate, pertinent, accessible, confidential, and secure patient records in accordance with privacy and security standards.
- Assure patient records contain documentation of all patient interactions.
- Manage patient compliance and outcomes database.
- Develop and implement quality assurance/improvement activities and staff training.
- Participate in professional development activities.
- Service Management and Essential Skills:
- Comply with professional standards of conduct.
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards regarding safety and infection control.
- Meet and maintain all industry registry, certification, and state licensure requirements.
- Maintain current BLS certification for healthcare workers or international equivalent.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrate teamwork skills and ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers.
- Demonstrate computer skills appropriate for the position.
Education/Experience
Allied health professional with a bachelor’s degree and appropriate training and competence in patient education and sleep medicine or international equivalents including post-secondary education or certification. Certification in clinical sleep health (CCSH) is preferred.
OR
Successful completion of an accredited PSG educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis in sleep technology with a minimum of two years’ experience in the sleep technology profession. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
OR
A minimum of five years’ experience in sleep technology and documented proficiency for all competencies required of a sleep technologist AND clinical sleep health educator.
AND
Certification by a nationally recognized certification board and holds either a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), Registered Sleep Technologist (RST), or Sleep Disorders Specialist (SDS) credential, and/or CCSH certification.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In the performance of this job, the employee may be exposed to chemical vapors such as cleaning and disinfecting solutions. There may also be skin contact with these substances. The employee may also be exposed to infectious agents including blood borne pathogens.
Job description updated July 2019.