Sleep Tech Tip of the Week
By Michael Miller, RPSGT

A subject that many of us in the healthcare field neglect is our own safety and well being.  We are trained to respond to medical emergencies, react to unique situations, and most often put the needs of our patients before that of our own. We rarely think about what we would do if we experienced a medical emergency that posed a threat to our own well being. Sleep professionals, especially techs who work alone in independent diagnostic testing facilities, are one of the most at risk groups of healthcare providers who may experience a personal medical situation that may require them to put their needs first.

I once worked for a sleep service company where a situation such as this occurred. A fellow tech was working alone and taking care of two patients when during the middle of his shift he experienced a mild heart attack. He called a coworker to replace him, then called 911, and continued to care for his patients until help arrived. He ended up making a full recovery and was back at work within two weeks. This particular situation illustrates the phrase “going above and beyond the call of duty”.

Personally, I would have reacted differently to these circumstances. I would have called 911 first and then informed my patients of the situation taking place. Either of them may have been CPR certified and qualified to assist had things taken a turn for the worse. They also could have called another company employee to notify them of the situation.

There is some justification and methodology behind the announcement, “place your oxygen mask on first before assisting the needs of others”, when traveling on an airplane that can be applied to healthcare professionals as well. If we don’t recognize and react to potential medical emergencies that may affect us, we are not going to be much help to our patients. Most likely and hopefully a situation like as this will never occur during our careers, but it is better to be prepared for such circumstances and never have to experience them. Take care of yourself, because if you don’t who will?

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Tags: emergency plan, medical emergency, patient safety, safety, sleep medicine, sleep study