News

Effective May 1 – New RPSGT and CPSGT Exam Blueprints

New forms of the RPSGT and CPSGT exams will take effect May 1.  All exam candidates sitting for either exam on or after May 1, are strongly encouraged to review the new exam blueprints, available (CPSGT, RPSGT).

While the biggest change to both blueprints was a reorganization of the information, there were some content changes. For example:

• The CPSGT exam now includes pediatric recording and scoring; the titration section now includes adult CPAP and bilevel therapy.

• The RPSGT exam now includes a section on sleep disorders – not simply sleep disordered breathing; included in the procedures and practice guidelines is the addition of PAP-NAP for both adults and pediatrics; scoring now includes pediatrics and infants.

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 sleep technology profession – the responsibilities and the knowledge and skills required to fulfill those responsibilities – and provides a benchmark for updating the exams.

A JTA was recently conducted for both the RPSGT and CPSGT exams. The results of the 2017-2018 Job Task Analysis surveys, conducted in partnership with PearsonVUE, BRPT’s test development partner, confirms the RPSGT and CPSGT exams continue to measure important knowledge areas relevant to sleep technologists, in both of these capacities, and is still doing a good job of testing the pertinent information needed to be a strong, practicing RPSGT and CPSGT.

News

A Snapshot of CCSH Credential Holders

By Andrea Ramberg, AS, RPSGT, CCSH

 

With more than 800 CCSH credential holders in the field working today, we thought it would be a good time to gather some of their thoughts and insights on how they’re using the credential.

At the beginning of the year, we issued a survey and had a great response with approximately 200 respondents – nearly 70 percent of whom report using their credential on a daily basis! Of these respondents, more than half use their credential in a hospital setting.

Education plays a major role: nearly 65 percent of respondents use their credential in an educational role; 30 percent to facilitate community-wide efforts, 23 percent to educate sleep techs on staff, and 10 percent to educate physicians.

One respondent noted, “I would like to see more patient education done in the sleep lab itself and not just primarily in the physician appointments and DME locations. Every interaction with the patient is an opportunity to discover how we can give them a better, more tolerable experience.”

In terms of follow-up care provided — the vast majority (nearly 80 percent) help patients trouble shoot CPAP problems.

Added one respondent, “The CCSH is a great tool as a liaison between the physician and patient. At the physician’s office where I work, I am often asked by the physician for input on patients’ sleep studies and therapy options. “

And, of course, we must be able to bill for these services. Only 16 percent of respondents indicated they are currently billing for CCSH-related activity.  The best way to rectify this is to take action by meeting with the administration and risk management teams in our facilities to ensure they understand the power of this credential.  By working directly with patients to create the best care plan possible, CCSH credential holders provide an important cost-saving solution by reducing readmissions and cutting back on physician time.  The ability to bill for the CCSH-related activity will come once we change the conversation.

CCSH credential holders have taken the next step in their career; let’s all work together to spread the word about the value of this credential.  Together we can create the future of sleep!

News

Important Update For CPSGT & RPSGT Exam Candidates Taking A-STEP SELF STUDY MODULES

On January 1, 2018 the American Academy of Sleep Medicine made several updates and changes to the A-STEP Modules.  Effective June 1, all CPSGT & RPSGT exam candidates using the Eligibility Pathway 1 or 4 (RPSGT) or Pathway 1 or 3 (CPSGT) must complete the new series of 26 modules in their entirety in order to meet eligibility requirements to apply for these exams.

News

Celebrating An Important Milestone

By Jessica Schmidt, MA, FACHE, RPSGT, CCSH
BRPT President

This year will be a momentous one for the BRPT. First of all, it’s the 40th anniversary of our organization! The BRPT started as a small group of professionals who travelled the country to administer the RPSGT exam on location and with practical components. As the organization grew, it cemented its place in the field of sleep technology by launching additional credentialing exams, offered on demand with real time results, and numerous educational programs to support the profession.

I am fortunate to lead an outstanding group of Directors whose talents have helped launch and grow the CCSH credential and advance many areas of the profession (e.g. inpatient screening, physician collaboration, cutting-edge technological integration, clinical research, and outcomes-based compliance programs). We look forward to a year of renewed collaborations with our sister organizations including a strong presence at, and support for, the AAST’s annual meeting in Indianapolis this September.

We’ve made recent investments in our staffing to assure timely turnaround of applications, recertifications, and general inquiries. My fellow Directors and I will be publishing additional blogs in the coming months and we look forward to hearing from our credential holders on how we can best serve you and the profession as we enter a new era.

News

‘s Credentialing Director Earns Important Designation for Certification Professionals

By Lydia Pelliccia, BRPT Communications Director

We’re delighted to report that our very own Ashley Shelton, BRPT’s Credentialing Director, has earned the Credentialing Specialist certificate after completing the Institute For Credentialing Excellence (ICE) assessment-based certificate program for credentialing professionals.

ICE recognizes certification has become a profession that requires its own unique competencies. The assessment-based Certificate Program for the Credentialing Specialist was created to:

  • Identify the tasks required of a certification professional and the skills and knowledge needed to practice;
  • Provide a clear career pathway for individuals who are developing, implementing, and maintaining quality certification programs; and,
  • Recognize those who have attained the requisite skills and knowledge.

Through this Program, Ashley was able to supplement her specialized knowledge by taking courses covering topics that ranged from accreditation standards, policies and procedures, psychometrics and exam development to governance and legal issues.

Many of you have had the opportunity to interact with Ashley and know as well as we do that she’s a wealth of knowledge and our “go to” source on all things BRPT-credentials related. Congrats Ashley on taking it to the next level – we know we will all benefit from this!

Interested in learning more about ICE and how we work hard to maintain high standards for our programs? Visit www.credentialingexcellence.org.

News

BRPT’s Credentialing Director Earns Important Designation for Certification Professionals

By Lydia Pelliccia, BRPT Communications Director

We’re delighted to report that our very own Ashley Shelton, BRPT’s Credentialing Director, has earned the Credentialing Specialist certificate after completing the Institute For Credentialing Excellence (ICE) assessment-based certificate program for credentialing professionals.

ICE recognizes certification has become a profession that requires its own unique competencies. The assessment-based Certificate Program for the Credentialing Specialist was created to:

  • Identify the tasks required of a certification professional and the skills and knowledge needed to practice;
  • Provide a clear career pathway for individuals who are developing, implementing, and maintaining quality certification programs; and,
  • Recognize those who have attained the requisite skills and knowledge.

Through this Program, Ashley was able to supplement her specialized knowledge by taking courses covering topics that ranged from accreditation standards, policies and procedures, psychometrics and exam development to governance and legal issues.

Many of you have had the opportunity to interact with Ashley and know as well as we do that she’s a wealth of knowledge and our “go to” source on all things BRPT-credentials related. Congrats Ashley on taking it to the next level – we know we will all benefit from this!

Interested in learning more about ICE and how we work hard to maintain high standards for our programs? Visit www.credentialingexcellence.org.