Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technician - UMich Graduate

Under supervision of the clinical manager, performs preoperative assessment of patient, conducts intraoperative sensory and motor tests using currently accepted electrophysiological techniques. Compiles real-time collection and interpretation of data and completes post-operative reports and billing forms. The purpose for this testing is to reduce the incidence of stroke, paresthesia, impotence, incontinence, and paralysis as a post-operative surgical outcome.

Locations (subject to change):

• Long Beach/Orange County, CA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
• Tyler, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Shreveport, LA
• Columbus, OH

Patient Consultation 

• Explains test procedures so they are understandable to the patient and any family members that are present. 
• Measures and accurately applies recording electrodes in a timely manner, according to the international 10-20 Electrode Placement System. 

IOM Equipment Setup 

• Calibrates, evaluates, and adjusts equipment, optimizing recording and stimulation parameters, to acquire salient data and information. 
• Implements appropriate troubleshooting methods, such as adjusting stimulation, to assure accurate recording of information. 
• Keeps equipment clean and in proper working order, reporting technical malfunctions to supervisor and/or manufacturer. 

Intraoperative Monitoring 

• During surgery, interacts with surgical team and surgeons to provide interpretive data regarding the patient’s neurological status. 
• Identifies and eliminates physiological and non-physiological artifacts. 
• Recognizes normal patterns, normal variants, and abnormal patterns; understands the medical and pharmacological/anesthetic conditions that influence all recording IOM modalities (e.g., EP, BAER, MEP, Etc.); understands the clinical correlations between abnormal evoked potentials and various disease states. 

Documentation 

• Displays, prints, and labels waveforms to hard copy for interpretation marking, measuring, and calculating information such as latencies, voltages, and conduction times following established National Neuromonitoring Services guidelines and protocols. 

• Accurately documents significant events and stages of surgery in a timely manner, completes all IOM logs, files, and work/technical sheet, including a technical description of the IOM modality recorded, with emphasis on the clinical observations in order to assist the neurologists and/or designated MD with the final interpretation. 

Additional Duties 

• Following completion of training, assists new IOM technicians
• If workload allows, attends scientific courses and seminars for continuing education. 
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Corporate staff 

Other Requirements 

• Must maintain professional appearance.  
• Ability to be at work on a regular and consistent basis 

Working Conditions 

• Possible exposure to communicable diseases and hazardous materials with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followed. 

• The use of protective clothing such as surgical clothing, gloves, glasses, and masks (PPE). 
• Work requires lifting supplies, pushing, or carrying bulky pieces of equipment. 
• Occasional/frequent travel by motor vehicle and/or air transportation to healthcare facilities located in both urban and rural areas. 
• Variable work schedules that may change from week to week, depending on case load, surgeon’s availability, creating situations that may require minimal notice to be available for a case. 
• Will require cell phone availability for scheduled “on-call time” during weekends to cover add-on, elective, or emergency cases. 

• Usually working independently of other Technologists. 
• Physical demands would include lifting and transporting 40-45lbs of monitoring equipment to each facility utilizing proper lifting techniques.

• Must hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Program.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license.
• Must have current AHA CPR certification. 

Skills/Specialized Knowledge 

• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuroanatomy, pathologic processes, and aseptic techniques. 
• Knowledge of procedures followed in conducting electrophysiological tests and examinations on patients. 

• Knowledge of electrophysiological equipment used in performing tests on patients. 
• Ability to analyze various electronic and neurophysiologic waveforms. 
• Interpersonal communication skills necessary to interact with medical staff, patients, visitors, and other hospital employees. 
• Ability to stand, turn and stoop among several types of equipment in an operating room suite. 
• Ability to apply different types of electrodes to a patient’s anatomy with precision and speed in preparation of monitoring a surgical procedure. 

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time, while concentrating on monitoring computer screen images during a surgical procedure.