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AAST RPSGT Exam Study Club Agenda

September 4, 2025

Domain 1: CLINICAL OVERVIEW, EDUCATION, PATIENT SUPPORT

Task A: Patient information and clinical assessment
  1. Clinician’s orders and testing indications
  2. History and physical
  3. Sleep disorders (e.g., Circadian Rhythm Disorders, sleep disordered breathing, parasomnias, hypersomnias)
  4. Medications (e.g., risks, implications, effects on sleep)
  5. Patient orientation to department
  6. Establish clinical baseline (e.g., age-specific care, sleep history, mobility, pain, vitals)
  7. Questionnaires (e.g., Epworth Sleepiness Scale, STOP-Bang, pre/post PSG)
Task B: Patient and caregiver education
  1. Sleep hygiene
  2. Therapy and compliance
  3. Sleep disorder testing
Task C: Provide therapy support
  1. PAP desensitization techniques
  2. PAP therapy (i.e., application and mechanics)
  3. Assessment of the download report

September 11, 2025

Domain 2: SLEEP STUDY PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE

Task A: Determine Technical preparation
  • Equipment and supplies
  • Electrode and sensor placement (e.g., modifications per patient need)
  • Site preparation and application
  • Technical specifications and instrumentation
  • Montage selection
  • Infection control (e.g., universal precautions, PPE, equipment disinfection)
Task B: Perform procedures and follow practice guidelines
  • Adult PSG
  • Pediatric PSG
  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
  • Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)
  • Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT)
Task C: Identify, respond, and document
  • Waveform variations (e.g., abnormal EEG)
  • Artifacts
  • Equipment malfunction
  • Recognition of events (e.g., cardiac, respiratory, movement, capnography)
  • Settings (e.g., filters, sensitivity, gain)
  • Channel and physiological calibrations
  • Impedance verification

September 18, 2025

Domain 2: SLEEP STUDY PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE

Session Focus: Carry over items from prior session
  • Continue Domain 2 coverage from the 9/11 session.
  • Revisit any unresolved questions/items.
Study Tips: Study tips, tricks & resources
  • Prioritize high-yield procedures (PSG, MSLT, MWT, HSAT) and instrumentation basics.
  • Create quick-reference cards for montages, filters, sensitivity, and gain.
  • Drill recognition of artifacts vs. true physiologic signals.
  • Use download report samples to practice interpretation and documentation language.
  • Group practice questions by task (A/B/C) to identify weak areas quickly.

September 25, 2025

Domain 3: SCORING, REPORTING, AND DATA VERIFICATION

Task A: Score adult studies
  1. Sleep stages
  2. Arousals
  3. Respiratory events
  4. Desaturations
  5. Movements
  6. Cardiac events
Task B: Score pediatric and infant studies
  1. Sleep staging
  2. Arousals
  3. Respiratory events
  4. Desaturations
  5. Movements
  6. Cardiac events
Task C: Generate and verify report
  • Calculations (e.g., AHI, RDI, TST, REI)
  • Technologist documentation summary
  • Graphic summary (e.g., histogram, hypnogram, titration table)

October 2, 2025

Domain 4: TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION

Task A: Administer PAP therapy (e.g., CPAP, Bi-level, APAP, ASV, NIPPV)
  1. Adult practice guidelines
  2. Pediatric practice guidelines
  3. Mode of intervention
  4. Acclimation and interface fit
  5. Troubleshooting (e.g., leak levels, pressure release, humidification)
  6. Indications and contraindications
Task B: Identify alternative therapies
  1. Oral appliances
  2. Positional therapy
  3. Surgical options
  4. Indications and contraindications
Task C: Administer oxygen therapy
  1. Oxygen titration practice guidelines
  2. Indications and contraindications

October 9, 2025

NO Session This Week

October 16, 2025

Final Session

Review and Exam Preparation

Review Domains 1–4 and final thoughts on preparing for the certification exam.

This six-session program will take place over seven weeks, with sessions scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CDT) on the following dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25, October 2, and October 16. For more information regarding the RPSGT Exam Study Club select here.