Under the supervision of the clinical manager, the IOM Technologist performs a preoperative assessment of the patient and conducts intraoperative sensory and motor tests using currently accepted electrophysiological techniques. Data is compiled, interpreted, and communicated in real-time. The IOM Technologist completes post-operative reports and billing forms. The purpose of this testing is to reduce the incidence of post-operative neurological deficits.
Patient Consultation:
- Explains test procedures so they are understandable to the patient and any family members that are present.
- Measures and accurately applies to recording electrodes in a timely manner, according to the international 10-20 Electrode Placement System.
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 the 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., SSEPs, MEPs, BAERs, etc.); understands the clinical correlations between abnormal evoked potentials and various disease states.
Documentation:
- Displays and labels waveforms 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 complete all IOM logs, files, and work/technical sheet, including a technical description of the IOM modalities recorded, with emphasis on the clinical observations in order to assist the neurologists and/or designated MD with the final interpretation.
Additional Duties:
- Following the completion of training, assists new IOM technologists.
- If workload allows, attends scientific courses and seminars for continuing education.
- Performs additional duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Corporate staff.
