Talking Sleep Season 4

Episode 20

Sleep Technologist Education

Karen Rowe, Debbie Guerrero and Dr. Brad Vaughn, Guests

We are all struggling with the sleep technologist shortage. Sleep techs are retiring or leaving the profession for other health care and non-health care positions. We also see fewer sleep technologist programs and graduates. Here to talk with us today about sleep technologist education are Karen Rowe, Debbie Guerrero and Dr. Brad Vaughn, who are leaders of the Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG).

Karen Monarchy Rowe is the executive director of the CoA PSG. She also started an associate degree program at a community college and had it accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Debbie Guerrero is the program coordinator for the CAAHEP-accredited sleep technology program at Moraine Valley Community College, and she is the current chair of the CoA PSG.

Dr. Vaughn is a professor of neurology, biomedical engineering and allied health sciences at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He is the medical director for the CoA PSG.

Episode Resources

  1. Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA-PSG)
  2. American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST) Workforce Survey Report
  3. The Future of Sleep Technology: Report from an American Association of Sleep Technologists Summit Meeting
  4. Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Programs (A-STEP)
  5. Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)