September 007

Page 9

Sleep finally pays off

New polysomnography program

is first of its kind in Kentucky

By CHRIS CRUMBAKER

Courier Staff

Sleeping and making money now go hand

and hand.

BCTC is now offering a new certificate pro -

gram in the Polysomnographic Technology

profession, also known as Sleep Technology.

“Polysomnographic (PSG) technologists

operate a variety of sophisticated monitoring

devices, which record brain activity (EEG),

muscle and eye movements, respiration, blood

oxygen levels, and other physiologic events.

Technologists are also involved in the evalua-

tion of various treatment methods,” according

to the new program's brochure.

Jim Matchuny, respiratory care and poly -

somnography program coordinator, helped

found the polysomnography program when a

need for sleep technicians was brought to his

attention by the Respiratory Advisory Com-

Photo by JENNIFER BEASLEY

mittee of BCTC in early 005. Matchuny

Jim Matchuny connects Kimberly Long to the sleep system while Veronica

asked the Kentucky Sleep Society (KYSS)

Cisenius and Alexandra List, background, look on.

what kind of need Kentucky had for Polysom -

nographic Technologists.

ratory care background and cross-

polysomnography program include the amount

Reacting to KYSS’s response, Matchuny

train. The workers who now hold

of time it takes to achieve a certificate, the nu -

realized there was an essential demand in the

these positions were trained on the

merous employment opportunities in this area,

sleep tech field to help Kentuckians as well as

job with no previous experience.

and the accessibility.

other people in this region with sleep-oriented

As a result, students who receive a

The polysomnography curriculum demands

dilemmas.

polysomnography certificate will only 9 credit hours: 14 cr. hrs. of general edu -

“I developed a real interest in the career

be highly desired by employers.

cation courses; 15 cr. hrs. of polysomnogra-

field,” Matchuny said.

Matchuny expects the employ -

phy courses. The program can be completed

Not only is the polysomnography program a

ment rate of the polysomnography

in one year.

new addition to the college, but it is the first of

certificate achievers to be 100 per -

Within the polysomnography profession

its kind in the state of Kentucky.

cent.

there are various positions and employers to

“Right now the program is in the process

Typically sleep techs can earn

choose from. Also in the career field there is a

of becoming accredited by the Committee on

between $38,000 and $43,000 per business and industry portion, where employ-

Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technol -

year, and advanced technologists

ees teach polysomnography education and sell

ogy,” said Matchuny.

are making an average of $47,000 equipment and medicine to sleep labs nation-

Presently in Kentucky technicians are not

per year, according to data from

required to obtain a license or any training to

the American Association of Sleep

practice polysomnography. The majority of

Technologists.

SLEEP

sleep technicians come from an EEG or respi-

Other highlights of BCTC’s

continued on page 10

Page 10

September 2007

ment, local sleep labs have donated

SLEEP

time and use of their equipment so

students can rotate from different

continued from page 9

sleeps labs to get hands-on experi-

ence.

Whatcha doin' for

“The program appreciates not

wide. Personnel are typically

only the support from the commu-

employed at sleep labs, hospitals,

nity, but from the college adminis-

FALL BREAK?

clinics attached to hospitals, and

tration and staff as well,” Matchuny

free standing clinics.

said.

There are about 16 labs within a

30-mile radius of Lexington that

Oct 8 -14

employ technicians. St. Joseph’s

Sleep Wellness Center, Central

Predominant

% with RPSGT

Avg. Starting

Avg. Ending

Baptist Sleep Wellness Center,

Position

Education Level

Credential

Salary

Salary

Samaritan Hospital, and the Lex-

ington Clinic are just some of the

High School

Trainee

Diploma

Not Applicable

$13.64/hr

$19.65/hr

local employers of sleep techs.

This career is especially ac-

High School

Technician

48.6%

$16.24/hr

$23.13/hr

cessible to night-owls and non-

Diploma

traditional students. Two-thirds

Technologist

Associate

63.5%

$42,509

$55,411

of sleep techs work third shift,

Degree

giving people who enjoy staying

Scorer

High School

67.4%

$42,513

$59,849

up late a chance to make money.

Diploma

Non-traditional students can start

Specialty

High School

59.2%

$49,960

$66,360

and finish the course in one year's

Technologist

Diploma

time, making the program ex-

Shift

High School

tremely obtainable.

Supervisor

Diploma

75.1%

$40,071

$50,342

Larry G. Nuckolls, 55, of De -

Clinical

Associate

troit, Michigan, is both a non-tra -

Coordinator

Degree

67.4%

$47,935

$66,729

ditional student and a night-owl.

Manager/

Associate

Nuckollsrecentlymadethechoice

Director

Degree

49.9%

$63,580

$80,300

of returning to school years after

obtaining both a bachelor’s and

master’s degree in music compo-

sition from Wayne State Univer-

The deadline to apply to the program this year will be February 15.

sity in Detroit, to pursue a career

in polysomnography.

In order for an application to be considered complete, the following information must

Nuckolls first directed himself

be submitted to the Office of Admissions by February 15:

towards the respiratory care field

1) Students who are currently enrolled in classes at BCTC must fill out a Letter of

where he met Matchuny, who

Intent, available in 200 Oswald Building on the Cooper campus. Students who are

introduced him to polysomnog-

not currently enrolled in classes at BCTC must fill out an application for Admission

raphy. Nuckolls then recognized

to the college, available in 200 Oswald Building and also online

the highlights of this career while

2) An official high school transcript or official passing GED scores. Transcripts must

searching for a full-time job with

benefits and stability.

show a date of graduation. This is also required of students with college work.

“Understand it will be a rigor-

3) Official results of the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Assessment

ous program. Have no illusions

Test (SAT) if less than 12 credits of college work have been completed. The college

that you will breeze right through

courses must be numbered 100 or higher excluding remedial courses.

it. Don’t do it if you think it’s

4) Official transcripts of all post-secondary education attempted. Transcripts must

easy,” Nuckolls advised potential

be submitted from EACH college or university attended.

polysomnography students.

5) Documentation of an observation in a sleep lab is required for admission into the

The certificate program has re -

ceived a tremendous amount of

program.

support from the sleep lab com-

6) A mandatory program pre-admission conference can be scheduled by contacting

munity. Cadwell Co. has donat-

the program coordinator at (859) 246-6246.

ed $40,000 worth of equipment

All of the documentation listed above must be submitted to:

to the new program, which will

eventually give them two full

BCTC Office of Admissions

patient hook-ups so students can

200 Oswald Bldg., 470 Cooper Dr.

get hands-on training. While the

program waits for the new equip-

Lexington, KY 40506-0235