Virginia § 54.1-2957.15 - Unlawful to practice as a polysomnographic technologist without a license

§ 54.1-2957.15. Unlawful to practice as a polysomnographic technologist without a license

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. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a student enrolled in an educational program in polysomnographic technology or a person engaged in a traineeship from the practice of polysomnographic technology, provided that such student or trainee is under the direct supervision of a licensed polysomnographic technologist or a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine. Any such student or trainee shall be identified to patients as a student or trainee in polysomnographic technology. However, any such student or trainee shall be required to have a license to practice after 18 months from the start of the educational program or traineeship or six months from the conclusion of such program or traineeship, whichever is earlier.

D. 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.

2010, c. 838; 2018, c. 98.