Electroencephalograph Tech (1.0 FTE) - EEG Diagnotics

Hennepin Healthcare is an integrated system of care that includes HCMC, a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a clinic system with primary care clinics located in Minneapolis and across Hennepin County. The comprehensive healthcare system includes a 473-bed academic medical center, a large outpatient Clinic & Specialty Center, and a network of clinics in the North Loop, Whittier, and East Lake Street neighborhoods of Minneapolis, and in the suburban communities of Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Richfield, and St. Anthony Village. Hennepin Healthcare has a large psychiatric program, home care, and operates a research institute, philanthropic foundation, and Hennepin EMS. The system is operated by Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County.

Equal Employment Opportunities: We believe equity is essential for optimal health outcomes and are committed to achieve optimal health for all by actively eliminating barriers due to racism, poverty, gender identity, and other determinants of health. We are committed to equitable care and working in an environment that celebrates, promotes, and protects diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to bringing in individuals with new cultural perspectives to assist in creating a more equitable healthcare organization.

We are currently seeking a Electronencephalograph Tech to join our EEG Diagnostics team. This full-time role will work day shift with shared on call rotation.

SUMMARY

Under general supervision, performs work involving the computerized recording of routine, sleep-deprived, long-term, portable, and ICU EEG recordings. Required to provide a safe environment while maintaining rapport with the patient and the family and to follow EEG Lab policies and procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides a safe recording environment by verifying patient identity, cleaning electrodes after each procedures, following universal precautions for infection control, attending to patient needs appropriately, recognizing/responding to life-threatening situations, complying with biohazardous material handling procedures, maintaining instrument/equipment in good working order, and taking appropriate precautions to ensure electrical safety
• Establishes rapport with the patient and patient's family by using personal communication skills to achieve patient relaxation/cooperation, explaining all test procedures including activation procedures, explaining the electrodes application method (collodion or paste), interacting on a level appropriate to patient's age and mental capacity, and maintaining respect and patient confidentiality
• Evaluates the patient to determine the patient's mental age, mental state, and comprehension level; notes the patient's overall physical condition; decides appropriate method of electrode application; ascertains the patient's capacity to cooperate with activation procedures; determines if hyperventilation is contraindicated; accommodates for disabilities or special needs; determines the need for additional physiological monitors; documents unusual or inappropriate behavior suggestive of seizure or pseudo seizure; determines the possible needs for medical immobilizations or emergency intervention; determines the need for and utilizing interpreter services per HHS guidelines
• Prepares patient data sheet that includes patient information form EPIC (name, age, medical record number, doctor, etc.); notes pertinent patient history and familial medical history; lists current medications/sedation; notes time, date, aura, and circumstances of last seizure or symptoms; specifies the patient's mental, behavioral, and consciousness states; diagrams skull defects or anomalies (if any); diagrams any modifications in electrode placement
• Follows electrode application method including measuring and marking the head following the international 10/20 measurement system, adjusting electrode placement for anatomical defects or anomalies, prepping patients scalp prior to electrode application, applying electrodes with paste or with collodion and electrolyte and verifying electrode impedances are balances and below 10,000 Ohms, with no interelectrode impedances greater than 5,000 Ohms
• Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by calibrating system amplifiers, verifying standard filter settings, verifying sensitivity settings, imputing a biological (bio-cal) signal to all channels, and correcting or reporting deviations as appropriate
• Obtains a standard EEG that includes at least 20 minute of technically acceptable recording (120 pages), eye opening and closing to check effect of stimuli on EEG, hyperventilation for a minimum of 3 minutes, when clinically appropriate, photic stimulation at frequencies appropriate for history and reactivity, mental stimulation/assessment procedures, periodic checks of electrode impedance, natural drowsiness and sleep, if possible, and notes on observed behavior, clinical seizure manifestations, etc
• Customizes recording procedures by evaluating reason for referral, history, and observed waveforms, utilizing techniques to bring out or enhance clinical symptoms, selecting montages appropriate for abnormalities seen and/or expected, selecting appropriate instrument settings, encouraging drowsiness and sleep, applying additional electrodes to localize abnormal activity, monitoring respiration if appropriate, and monitoring ECG rhythms for abnormality
• Understands and follows technical criteria for recording electrocerebral inactivity (brain death), neonatal and pediatric EEG, and in intensive care or cardiac care units
• Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by recognizing possible artifactual waveforms, documenting, on the recording, patient movements, applying/recording leads for eye potentials and ECG, replacing electrodes exhibiting questionable activity or contact, and troubleshooting for possible electrical interference
• When the EEG recording is finished, removes electrodes pate/glue from the patient's scalp and hair, describes clinically significant behavior, documents sedation used, dosage, and effects, and reviews EEG for appropriate documentation of amplifier setting and montage changes
• Understands and has working knowledge of functional neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, medication effects on the EEG background and waveforms, medical terminology and accepted abbreviations, signs, symptoms, and EEG correlates for adult and pediatric neurological disorders, seizure manifestations, classifications and EEG correlates, and psychiatric and psychological disorders and EEG correlates
• Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by reviewing EEG tracings with EEGer on a regular basis, reading journal articles, studying textbooks related to the field, and attending continuing education courses in electroneurodiagnostics
• Applies the principles of electronics and mathematics to recording by knowing how differential amplifiers work and understanding polarity of the waveforms, impedance, and analog to digital conversion
• Recognizes normal and normal variant awake and asleep patterns for each age range, abnormal awake and asleep patterns for each age range, EEG patterns for levels of consciousness, and clinical seizure patterns

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• Six months experience performing electroencephalograph tests

-OR-

• Completion of an approved training program in EEG testing

-OR-

• An approved equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with as well as take direction from physicians and other clinical team members

License/Certifications:

• National Board Registration required within 24 months of employment

You've made the right choice in considering Hennepin Healthcare for your employment. We offer a wealth of opportunities for individuals who want to make an impact in our patients' lives. We are dedicated to providing Equal Employment Opportunities to both current and prospective employees. We are driven to connect talented individuals with life-changing career opportunities, enabling you to provide exceptional care without exception. Thank you for considering Hennepin Healthcare as a future employer.

Please Note: Offers of employment from Hennepin Healthcare are conditional and contingent upon successful clearance of all background checks and pre-employment requirements.

• We offer a competitive pay rate based on your skills, licensure/certifications, education, experience related to this position, and internal equity.
• We provide an extensive benefits program that includes Medical; Dental; Vision; Life, Short and Long-term Term Disability Insurance; Retirement Funds; Paid Time Off; Tuition reimbursement; and license and Certification reimbursement (Available ONLY for benefit eligible positions).
• For a complete list of our benefits, please visit our career site on why you should work for us.