Electroencephalograph Technician (Casual EEG Tech)

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.

Hennepin Healthcare has a current opening for an Casual Electroencephalograph Tech (EEG) in our EEG Diagnostic Lab. This casual position will work day and evening shifts and a weekend/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

• The technologist provides a safe recording environment by:
  • Verify 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 hazardous material handling procedures
  • Maintaining instrument/equipment in good working order
  • Taking appropriate precautions to ensure electrical safety
• Technologist 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
  • Maintaining respect and patient confidentiality
• Technologist evaluates the patient to:
  • Determine the patient's mental age, mental state and comprehension level
  • Note the patient's overall physical condition
  • Decide appropriate method of electrode application
  • Ascertain the patient's capacity to cooperate with activation procedures
  • Determine if hyperventilation is contraindicated
  • Accommodate for disabilities or special needs
  • Determine the need for additional physiological monitors
  • Document unusual or inappropriate behavior suggestive of seizure or pseudo seizure
  • Determine the possible needs for medical immobilizations or emergency intervention
• Technologist prepares a patient data sheet that includes:
  • Patient information form EPIC (name, age, medical record number, doctor, etc.)
  • Noting pertinent patient history and familial medical history
  • Listing current medications/sedation and time of last dosage
  • Noting time of last meal
  • Noting time, date, aura, and circumstances of last seizure or symptoms
  • Specifying the patient's mental, behavioral, and consciousness states
  • Diagramming skull defects or anomalies (if any)
  • Diagramming any modifications in electrode placement
• Technologist electrode application follows a method that includes:
  • 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 pate or wit collodion and electrolyte
  • Verifying electrode impedances are balances and below 5,000 Ohms
• Technologist documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by:
  • Calibrating system amplifiers
  • Verify standard filter settings
  • Verify sensitivity settings
  • Imputing a biological (bio-cal) signal to all channels
  • Corrects or reports deviations as appropriate
• Technologist obtains a standard EEG that includes:
  • At least 20 minute so technically acceptable recording (120 pages)
  • Eye opening and closing to check effect of stimuli on EEG
  • Hyperventilation for a minimum of 3 minutes
  • Photic stimulation at frequencies appropriate for history and reactivity
  • Mental stimulation/assessment procedures
  • Periodic checks of electrode impedance
  • Natural dowsiness and sleep, if possible
  • Notations of montage, filters, paper speed, and sensitivity setting changes
  • Notes on observed behavior, clinical seizure manifestations, etc.
• Technologist customizes the 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
  • Monitoring ECG rhythms for abnormality
• Technologist understands and follows technical criteria for:
  • Recording electrocerebral inactivity (brain death)
  • Recording neonatal EEG
  • Recording pediatric EEG
  • Recording in intensive care or cardiac care units
  • Recording for surgical monitoring
  • Recording for evoked potential studies
• Technologist differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by:
  • Recognizing possible artifactual waveforms
  • Documenting, on the recording, patient movements
  • Applying/recording leads for eye potentials
  • Applying/recording leads for ECG
  • Replacing electrodes exhibiting questionable activity or contact
  • Troubleshooting for possible electrical interference
• When the EEG recording is finished the technologist:
  • Removes electrodes pate/glue from the patient's scalp and hair
  • Describes clinically significant behavior
  • Documents sedation used, dosage, and effects
  • Reviews EEG for appropriate documentation of amplifier setting and montage changes
• Technologist 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 neurological disorders
  • Signs, symptoms, and EEG correlates for pediatric neurological disorders
  • Seizure manifestations, classifications, and EEG correlates
  • Psychiatric and psychological disorders and EEG correlates
• Technologist maintains and improves knowledge and skills by:
  • Reviewing EEG tracings with EEGer on a regular basis
  • Reading journal articles
  • Studying text books related to the field
  • Attending continuing education courses in electroneurodiagnostics
• EEG technologist applies the principles of electronics and mathematics to recording by:
  • Knowing how differential amplifiers work
  • Computing voltage and frequency of waveforms
  • Calculating the duration of waveforms
  • Understanding polarity of the waveforms, impedance and analog to digital conversion
• Technologist knows how waveform displays are affected by:
  • 60 Hertz filter
  • filter settings
  • sensitivity settings
  • paper speed
  • referential and bipolar montages
  • digital filters
  • electrode types and electrode material composition
  • malfunctioning equipment
• Technologist 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
  • 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

Preferred Qualifications:

• National Board Registration; required within 6 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.