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Join Us At World Sleep 2019!

August 23, 2019

Join Us At World Sleep 2019!
The Best of Sleep Medicine and Research

We’re so excited the World Sleep Society is collaborating with the Canadian Sleep Society to host World Sleep 2019 September 20-25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada. World Sleep 2019 is a full scientific congress on sleep medicine and research bringing sleep professionals from more than 75 countries together to advance sleep health worldwide. The congress will feature the most current, world-class scientific content in the field of sleep medicine and research. For more information, go to: www.worldsleepcongress.com. And, please be sure to stop by the BRPT Booth #214 in the exhibit hall to say hello and to meet BRPT executives – we’d love to answer any questions you might have and to hear your thoughts and insights.

Join the BRPT’s panel discussion delving into the Future of Sleep on Tuesday, September 24 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am.

In this session, the BRPT will share its perspective on the future of sleep medicine. BRPT representatives will outline the ways in which the field is changing, and how sleep technologists can best capitalize, and thrive, on these new developments.

Topics
Specific areas covered will include:
• Disruptive trends in sleep;
• The evolving role of sleep health professionals;
• Growing your sleep health career, as well as your profession;
• Technology’s impact on the future of sleep; and,
• Micro-credentials and their place in the sleep world.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this CME activity, participants should be able to:
• Describe the evolving role of sleep professionals including inpatient screening and as physician extenders;
• Discuss the changing healthcare landscape including novel payment models and disruptive technologies; and,
• Understand situated sleep medicine in the broader healthcare industry in terms of outcomes, population health, and wellness.

Furthering Our Efforts To Be The Global Leader In Sleep Technologist Credentialing And Certification

Finally, at World Sleep 2019, the BRPT is spearheading a meeting with sleep health professionals from around the world to discuss sleep technologist credentialing. This is an excellent opportunity for the BRPT, the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS), the WSS, and the CSS to recognize the work involved in building a databank of questions, reviewing eligibility, administering exams, as well as requirements for continuing education and recertification. Stay tuned!

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Tips for a Smooth Test Taking Experience

August 21, 2019

By Rachel Mouton, RPSGT, CCSH, LPN, Chair of the Exam Development Committee and Becky Appenzeller, RPSGT, R. EEG T., CNIM, CCSH, Director of the Exam Development Committee

You’ve worked hard to prepare to sit for the BRPT credentialing exam(s). You’ve read the Candidate Handbook, taken advantage of the Study Guide, and when possible, you’ve taken a practice exam. Your application is complete and you’ve received your testing date, time and location from PearsonVUE.

Below are a few quick reminders to facilitate a smooth online test taking experience.

• Remember to read ALL of the introductory screens, while being attentive to the time. Make sure you stay within the time allowed – 10 minutes (which begins with the three minute NDA that you must agree to) — or the screen will time out and you won’t be able to proceed.

• Pay close attention to the screens that give instructions for different types of exam questions; for example, multiple choice versus point and click. Don’t assume each question on the screen follows the same format.

• Graphics are important! Pay particular attention to the instructions about graphics making sure to view the entire graphic by scrolling vertically or laterally. You may also click and drag to enlarge the graphic or zoom in to view a smaller portion of the graphic.

• Be sure to read the entire question and ALL the answer options before selecting your answer. Sometimes it’s easy to begin reading a question and immediately think you know the answer. In doing so, you run the risk of making an incorrect selection because you missed an important clue in the second half of the question.

• If you are unsure of an answer, try to eliminate the answers you’re certain are incorrect as this is a good way to narrow down the choices.

• Don’t ever skip test questions; a guess is better than leaving it blank!

IMPORTANT NOTE: We recognize that there are alternative methods and individual lab protocols. Please remember all text questions are written and referenced to BRPT approved reference sources, which can be found by clicking on the “exam prep” button on each credentials’ webpage. So remember, when you see “according to recommended guidelines,” this means the correct answer is truly based on guidelines, not individual lab protocols.

Good Luck!

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AAST CCSH Designated Education Program to Debut at the Annual AAST 2019 Meeting

August 12, 2019

AAST CCSH Designated Education Program to Debut at the Annual AAST 2019 Meeting

The AAST will offer a new CCSH education program, entitled the AAST CCSH Designated Education Program, to meet CCSH exam eligibility under Pathway 3. This program will debut at the upcoming AAST 2019 Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO on Friday, September 6.

Upon completion of this full day workshop and receiving a passing score on the online post-test, RPSGT credential holders who have recertified at least once will be eligible to sit for the CCSH credential examination under Pathway 3 . Candidates must provide proof they passed the post-test to apply. We anticipate the new pathway will be available shortly after the new education program is available online, taking into account the post-test window and allowing candidates an opportunity to take and pass the post-test and receive their certificate.

This all-day workshop is designed for health professionals who work directly with sleep medicine patients, families and other healthcare practitioners to coordinate and manage patient care and improve outcomes. Topics covered will include:

· Normal sleep and circadian rhythms

· Evaluations of sleep disorders

· Incidence and prevalence of sleep disorders

· Clinical presentation of sleep disorders

· Clinical evaluations

· Patient follow up and management

The workshop also includes a supplemental workbook and additional online questions for all attendees. For more information on the AAST CCSH Designated Education Program, please visit the AAST 2019 Annual Meeting Page.

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PRC Statement

July 22, 2019

In order to maintain the integrity of the CPSGT, RPSGT and CCSH credentials, the BRPT’s Professional Review Committee (PRC) is responsible for the strict enforcement of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct for the BRPT’s credentialing program.

In the event of a high profile case involving a BRPT credential holder where patient safety is concerned, the BRPT will suspend that individual’s credential during the investigation of the case. The decision to suspend one’s credential will be determined on a case by case basis following thorough review by the PRC.

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Mourning the Loss of a True Leader in the Sleep Medicine Profession

July 17, 2019

Mourning the Loss of a True Leader in the Sleep Medicine Profession

By Vikas Jain, MD, CCSH

The world of sleep medicine lost an extraordinary leader when Christian Guilleminault passed away earlier this month. Much has been written about CG and his countless contributions to the field through his groundbreaking work as a clinician, scientist, teacher and writer.

One of my greatest blessings was having the privilege of training under CG from 2011-2012 at Stanford University’s Sleep Disorders Clinic. What I admired most about him was his unwavering passion for sleep medicine. Simply put, he lived and breathed Sleep. He was always the first person at the sleep center, and the last to leave. He was always eager to see as many patients as possible even if it meant staying late into the evening. His stamina and insatiable desire to truly help patients was contagious.

His standard for the field was always high and he never compromised. To this day, I cherish every moment I got to spend with him. It’s amazing how much of a visionary he was as many of the treatments he was talking about more than a decade ago are becoming mainstream today.

CG is absolutely the reason I’m in the field of sleep medicine. I’ve been an adjunct faculty member at Stanford University’s Sleep Disorders Clinic since 2013 which gave me the opportunity to work with and see him several times a year. I hope to honor his legacy by continuing to carry the values and principles that he has instilled within me. He was a remarkable gift and will be sorely missed.

Vikas Jain, MD, CCSH is a board certified sleep medicine physician practicing with Northwestern Medicine. He also serves as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor for Stanford University’s Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program as well as a Health System Clinician at Northwestern University. In addition to his passion for sleep medicine, Dr. Jain has a clinical interest in clinical informatics and obesity medicine. Dr. Jain is a member of the BRPT Board of Directors.

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Effective August 1 – New CCSH Exam Blueprint

May 20, 2019

A new form of the CCSH exam will take effect August 1. All exam candidates sitting for the CCSH exam on or after August 1, are strongly encouraged to review the new exam blueprint, available here. Updated versions of the CCSH candidate handbook, study guide and practice exam will be available in June to reflect the forthcoming exam blueprint.

While changes to the exam blueprint were minimal, there were modifications in verbiage used to describe the different domains and the percentages attributed to each. For example:

Domain 1 Sleep Over The Lifespan, will now be entitled Sleep Fundamentals with an increased percentage value of 30%. Neurological, neuromuscular and metabolic disorders have been added to Domain 1.
In Domain 4, a clearer and more comprehensive definition of collaborative and multidisciplinary sleep programs now includes dental, cardiology and primary care programs.

A top priority for the BRPT is to maintain, update and validate its credentialing exams. The process by which this is done is very thorough and strictly complies with best practices in the credentialing industry. An important element of this process is to conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) survey approximately every five years. The survey examines the current state of the clinical sleep health profession – the responsibilities and the knowledge and skills required to fulfill those responsibilities – and provides a benchmark for updating the exams.

A JTA was conducted for the CCSH exam in 2018. The results of this Job Task Analysis survey, conducted in partnership with PearsonVUE, BRPT’s test development partner, confirms the CCSH exam continues to measure important knowledge areas relevant to clinical sleep health specialists, and is still doing a good job of testing the pertinent information needed to be a strong, practicing CCSH.

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Important Changes to STAR Programs Effective 2020

May 8, 2019

Important Changes to STAR Programs Effective 2020:

In an effort to assess the efficacy of STAR-designated education programs, the BRPT will implement a two-tiered checks and balances system beginning in 2020.

First, all existing STAR programs will be required to submit an annual report that outlines the following:

1. Number of completers.
2. Number of completers who took the CCSH / RPSGT / CPSGT exams.
3. CCSH / RPSGT / CPSGT pass rates for exam takers.
4. Job placement statistics.
5. Completer satisfaction survey results.
6. Personnel changes.
7. Curriculum / competency changes.

The first annual report is due January 31, 2020.

Then, in 2021, the BRPT will implement a 5-year renewal process for all STAR-designated education programs.

In addition to the annual report, a nominal annual fee to cover administrative costs will be required. More details will be forthcoming.

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Tips for Maintaining your BRPT Credentials

May 1, 2019

Tips for Maintaining your BRPT Credentials:

https://www.aastweb.org/blog/maintaining-your-credentials

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Online Specialty Exam For Pediatric Sleep – Call For Volunteers

March 22, 2019

Volunteers are at the heart of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists’ work. Because of the contributions of volunteers’ time, talent and expertise, BRPT is able to develop and administer the CPSGT, RPSGT and CCSH programs according to best industry practices, which ensures stringent professional standards of clinical sleep health professionals.

Based on previous surveys and feedback we’ve received from our credential holders, we agree there is an important need for a specialty exam for pediatric sleep.

BRPT is seeking assistance from active RPSGTs, who are currently working in a pediatric sleep facility, to help us with two phases of this project: First, to assist in the development of a Job Task Analysis (JTA) survey and second, to help develop exam questions based on the JTA survey findings.

A JTA Survey will examine the current state of pediatric sleep – the responsibilities of an RPSGT working with sleep pediatric patients and the knowledge and skills required to fulfill those responsibilities. Conducting a JTA is an important and standard method used to gather current job information and to stay abreast of new developments and movement in the field.

Based on the findings of the JTA, volunteers will assist in the development of exam questions. In doing so, volunteers will play an important role in this process, sharing their pediatric sleep knowledge and expertise by working with the BRPT Pediatric Sleep Committee to ensure exam content quality.

In addition, it’s a unique chance to gain a broader understanding of the exam development process and an excellent opportunity to make valuable business and personal connections by working alongside BRPT Board members and other colleagues in the field.

Expectations:
• Volunteers must be active RSPGT credential holders currently working in a pediatric sleep facility with approximately 75 percent of time spent working with pediatric sleep patients.
• Volunteers are expected to respond in a timely manner to requests from the BRPT Pediatric Exam Committee Chair and to review, edit and help develop survey and exam questions.
• Volunteers are expected to participate in conference calls when necessary.

A successful candidate who passes this online specialty exam for pediatric sleep will earn a certificate in pediatric sleep.

If you are interested in this important opportunity to influence and support this new online specialty exam, please send an email, including your resume/CV, to the following:

Michael McLeland, Ph.D., RPSGT
BRPT Pediatric Exam Committee Chair
EMAIL: volunteer@brpt.org

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Join Us At World Sleep 2019!

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AAST CCSH Designated Education Program to Debut at the Annual AAST 2019 Meeting

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PRC Statement

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Mourning the Loss of a True Leader in the Sleep Medicine Profession

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Effective August 1 – New CCSH Exam Blueprint

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Important Changes to STAR Programs Effective 2020

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