Information Pertaining to the Practice of Polysomnography
Physician Supervision of Polysomnography Registrants
Polysomnographic registrants must work under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician and surgeon.
The supervising physician must hold a valid California license and either:
- Possess a current certification or subspecialty certification (or be eligible for such a certification) in sleep medicine by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), or
- Hold active staff membership at a sleep center or laboratory accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine or by the Joint Commission.
The supervising physician may not supervise more than:
- Eight polysomnographic technologists at one time; or
- Eight polysomnographic technicians and/or trainees at one time.
In addition, the supervising physician and surgeon shall remain available, either in person or by telephone, at the time that the polysomnographic services are provided.
If the supervising physician is not physically present on the premises, a supervising polysomnographic technologist or other licensed health care professional (registered nurse, physician assistant, or respiratory care practitioner who holds a current California license) must be physically present on the premises and available to the technicians and trainees under their supervision.
A supervising polysomnographic technologist and their supervising physician must establish written guidelines for the adequate supervision of technicians and trainees by the technologist. This requirement can be satisfied by the supervising physician adopting protocols for some or all of the tasks performed by the technicians and trainees. The protocols must be signed and dated by the supervising physician and the polysomnographic technologist.
The delegation of procedures to a polysomnographic registrant or other licensed health care professional does not relieve the supervising physician of primary, continued responsibility for the care of the patient.
Notice to Consumers Regulations (Business & Professions Code section 2026)
Per Business and Professions Code section 2026, beginning January 1, 2023, all licensees and registrants of the Board must provide notice to each patient or client that they are licensed/registered and regulated by the Board, and their license/registration can be checked and complaints against the licensee/registrant can be made through the Board's website or by contacting the Board.