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= Neurodiagnostic technologist = A Neurodiagnostic Technologist (formerly called Electroencephalographic (EEG) Technician , , or Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist , ) is an Allied Healthcare professional who performs diagnostic studies to record electrical activity arising from the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves using a variety of techniques and instrumentation. Procedures performed by neurodiagnostic technologists include Electroencephalography (EEG), Evoked Potentials (EP), Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS), Polysomnography/Sleep Technology (PSG), Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Long Term Monitoring (LTM) for Epilepsy or Intensive Care Unit/Continuous EEG monitoring (ICU/cEEG, Magnetoencephalography (MEG), and autonomic function testing. ,

Neurodiagnostic technologists work in all areas of the hospital, in private and independent diagnostic clinics, and in patients’ homes. Some testing is routine and provided only in outpatient settings, other testing is considered critical and is performed in the emergency department or intensive care unit (ICU), and specialized modalities of neurodiagnostic testing are used to monitor nervous system function in the operating room during surgical cases. Neurodiagnostic technologists prepare patients for procedures, obtain medical histories, record electrical potentials, calculate results, maintain equipment, and may work with specific treatments. They develop rapport with patients and comfort them during the recording procedure, which can last from 20 minutes for a routine EEG test to 8 hours for a sleep study, to multiple days’ admission for LTM/ICU/cEEG. ,

Neurodiagnostic technologists understand neurophysiology, recognize normal and abnormal electrical activity, and know how to properly assess the patient and document technical findings during the EEG procedure. It has been shown that the EEG technologist plays a significant role in the diagnosis of epilepsies, functioning as eyes and ears for the interpreting physician, who later reviews and interprets the data ,. EEG technologist must properly describe patient movements and behaviors, assess the patient who experiences an event during the procedure, enhance or filter EEG patterns of interest, and troubleshoot to eliminate undesirable artifact. , Considerable individual initiative, reasoning skill, and sound judgment are expected of the neurodiagnostic professional. , ,

Neurodiagnostic technology in the United States
In the United States, ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society (ASET), acknowledges the scope of practice for neurodiagnostic technology personnel. The commitment of ASET is to ensure that efficient, safe, competent, and ethical practices are provided and to maintain professional standards of practice. ASET acknowledges that neurodiagnostic technologists are a part of the patient care team as listed the clinical practice guidelines of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS). ,

Statistics regarding the profession
Employment opportunities include hospitals, specialized sleep and epilepsy labs, private practice, independent clinics, educational institutions, research facilities, and equipment design, sales, and manufacturing companies.

Career Outlook : Employment opportunities are abundant. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts 33,800 future job openings in neurodiagnostic technology (2014-2024) and is a “Bright Outlook” profession according to the O*Net Database due to the “much faster than average” projected growth (14% or higher) of the profession. Particularly strong growth areas are PSG and the specialty areas of LTM/cEEG and IONM. There is a continuous need for well-educated neurodiagnostic technologists, and the demand grows as new labs open and existing labs expand.

Salary: Dependent on education, experience, level of responsibility, type of employment, and region of the country. Consequently, salaries range from $31,100 for a Neurodiagnostic Technology Program graduate just entering the field to over $70,000 per year for lab managers and independent contractors. The mean (average) salary for all neurodiagnostic technologists across the country is $41,070, based on 2016 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technologists who hold professional credentials, college degrees, and who own their own business command the highest salaries.

Education and training
Technologists may enter the field through many employment pathways such as formal schooling, on-the-job training, or a combination of both. Technologists are often cross-trained in more than one modality of neurodiagnostic technology. Persons interested in pursuing a career in neurodiagnostics are strongly encouraged to attend a school specializing in the field. , , , Accredited postsecondary education programs can be found on the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) website at https://www.caahep.org/. Currently, most of the schools are associated with two-year colleges with a few located within hospitals or vocational schools. Some schools offer distance-learning programs online.

Many professional societies provide education, training, standardized guidelines, best practices, and networking in each modality of neurodiagnostic technology (see Organizations).

Credentialing
There are several existing certificates and registrations for the neurodiagnostic technology professionals, which are strongly encouraged as a demonstration of professional competency. , Credentialing organizations for neurodiagnostic technologies include:

ABRET Neurodiagnostic Credentialing & Accreditation is a nonprofit, 501 (c) 6 credentialing board for electroencephalography (R. EEG T.), evoked potentials (R. EP T.), neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (CNIM), long-term monitoring (CLTM), magnetoencephalography (CMEG) and autonomic testing (CAP) professionals. For more information on eligibility requirements, go to http://www.abret.org/.

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is an independent, nonprofit certification board for technologists practicing polysomnography (CPSGT, RPSGT, CCSH). For more information on eligibility requirements, go to http://www.brpt.org/.

The Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) credential is awarded by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). For more information on eligibility requirements, go to http://www.absm.org/.

The Certification in Nerve Conduction Technologist (CNCT) is awarded by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM). For more information on eligibility requirements, go to h https://www.aanem.org/Home

The Registration in Nerve Conduction Studies Technologist (R.NCS.T.) is awarded by the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists (AAET). For more information on eligibility requirements, go to https://www.aaet.info/.

Organizations
·       ASET: The Neurodiagnostic Society (https://www.aset.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=1)

·       AAET: American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists (https://www.aaet.info/)

·       AANEM: American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (https://www.aanem.org/Home)

·       AASM: American Academy of Sleep Medicine (https://aasm.org/)

·       AAST: American Association of Sleep Technologists (https://www.aastweb.org/)

·       ABSM: American Board of Sleep Medicine (http://www.absm.org/)

·       ABEM: American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (https://www.abemexam.org/Home)

·       ABRET: Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation (http://www.abret.org/)

·       ACNS: American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (http://www.acns.org/)

·       ASNM: American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (http://www.asnm.org/)

·       BRPT: Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (http://www.brpt.org/ /)

Categories:
Clinical neurophysiology       Electrodiagnostic medicine     Allied health professions        Neurodiagnostic Technology Category:Neurophysiology __NOINDEX__