CODE OF VIRGINIA

UNLAWFUL TO PRACTICE AS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST WITHOUT A LICENSE (§
54.1-2957.15)

A. It shall be unlawful for any person not holding a current and valid license
from the Board of Medicine to practice as a polysomnographic technologist or to
assume the title “licensed polysomnographic technologist,”
“polysomnographic technologist,” or “licensed sleep
tech.”

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a health care provider
licensed pursuant to this title from engaging in the full scope of practice for
which he is licensed, including, but not limited to, respiratory care
professionals.

C. For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires
otherwise:”Polysomnographic technology” means the process of
analyzing, scoring, attended monitoring, and recording of physiologic data
during sleep and wakefulness to assist in the clinical assessment and diagnosis
of sleep/wake disorders and other disorders, syndromes, and dysfunctions that
either are sleep related, manifest during sleep, or disrupt normal sleep/wake
cycles and activities.”Practice of polysomnographic technology”
means the professional services practiced in any setting under the direction and
supervision of a licensed physician involving the monitoring, testing, and
treatment of individuals suffering from any sleep disorder. Other procedures
include but are not limited to:

   a.  Application of electrodes and apparatus necessary to monitor and evaluate
   sleep disturbances, including application of devices that allow a physician to
   diagnose and treat sleep disorders, which disorders include but shall not be
   limited to insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, movement disorders,
   disorders of excessive somnolence, and parasomnias;

   b.  Under the direction of a physician, institution and evaluation of the
   effectiveness of therapeutic modalities and procedures including the
   therapeutic use of oxygen and positive airway pressure (PAP) devices, such as
   continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway
   pressure of non-ventilated patients;

   c.  Initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, maintenance of
   patient’s airway (which does not include endotracheal intubation);

   d.  Transcription and implementation of physician orders pertaining to the
   practice of polysomnographic technology;

   e.  Initiation of treatment changes and testing techniques required for the
   implementation of polysomnographic protocols under the direction and
   supervision of a licensed physician; and

   f.  Education of patients and their families on the procedures and treatments
   used during polysomnographic technology or any equipment or procedure used for
   the treatment of any sleep disorder.

HISTORY: 2010, c. 838.