What is the field of sleep medicine?

The field of sleep medicine is dedicated to diagnosing and treating people who suffer from sleeping related disorders. It is a rapidly growing profession that is in great need of trained personnel.

What is a sleep study and who performs it?

A sleep study is a test ordered by a doctor to gather information about a persons sleep, or lack thereof. The test is usually performed at night in a hospital sleep lab by a trained technologist.

What does a sleep technologist do?

A sleep technologist’s role in a sleep disorder center is vital. They place sensors on the patient’s body that allow them to monitor sleep, dreaming, breathing, heart rhythm, leg movements, oxygen levels, and more. To capture this information they use specialized monitoring equipment, computers, and software.

Why do people choose to work in the field of sleep medicine?

• Excellent pay and benefits
• High demand and low supply of trained personnel
• Great satisfaction from helping people improve the quality of their lives
• Opportunity to use high-end technology, computers, and software
• Constantly learning from on the job experience as well as new research published
• Opportunity to become certified as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), and or advance to management

What fields do people come from who work in sleep?

Prospective students come from various fields of endeavor i.e. physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, EEG technicians, medical technicians, college graduates, high school graduates, computer technicians, and more. It is an evolving field open to almost anyone with a desire to learn and grow.