Technical Staff Fact Sheet

Applicable Accreditation Standards

  1. Facilities must maintain appropriately trained, supervised, and, where required by state law, licensed sleep technologists. Technologist staffing at facilities must be adequate to address the workload of the facility and assure the safety of patients. The AASM recommends a patient to technologist ratio of 2:1 under usual circumstances for attended PSG at facilities.
  2. Facilities must maintain appropriately trained, supervised, and, where required by law, licensed personnel. It is the responsibility of the facility director to ensure that training is provided and documented for technical personnel.
  3. Technical staff must be trained on the proper use of HSAT devices including:
    • Device operations, application of sensors, use, maintenance, warnings and safety;
    • Instruction of patients in the use of HSAT devices;
    • Troubleshooting of HSAT problems; and
    • Infection control.

Facilities must employ at least one sleep technologist that is registered in sleep technology or accepted to sit for the registry examination through one of the following organizations:

  1. American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM)
    • Registered Sleep Technologist (RST)
  2. National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist – Sleep Disorder Specialist (RRT-SDS)
  3. Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT)
    • Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT)
  4. Another organization that offers an equivalent examination accepted by the AASM

The registry exam must be passed within one year from acceptance to sit for the examination. The individual(s) fulfilling this standard must be present at the facility at least 30 hours per week. If the facility is open fewer than 40 hours per week, then the registered technologist(s) must be present at the facility for 75% of operating hours.

A facility that loses its sole registered technologist will have 120 days to fulfill this standard.

All technologists and technicians conducting sleep testing who are not registered by the ABSM, BRPT, or NBRC:

  1. Must be enrolled in or have completed the A-STEP Online Self Study Modules. Non-registered technologists and technicians must complete A-STEP Online Self Study Modules within two years of enrollment.
    OR
  2. Must be enrolled in or have completed training in polysomnography in a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) program with the polysomnography option.

Scoring personnel must be one of the following: RST, RPSGT, CPSGT, respiratory therapists with the sleep disorders specialist certification (either CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS), or medical staff members/PhDs board-certified in sleep medicine (as defined in Standard B-2). Non-registered sleep technologists (as defined in Standard B-10) may score only under the supervision of one of the above while adhering to Standard B-10.

When a subcontractor scores sleep studies, the facility must have a written agreement with the subcontractor that enumerates the performance expectations of the subcontractor. The scorers of the subcontractor must meet all applicable AASM Accreditation standards for scoring personnel. The facility is responsible for assessing the performance of the subcontractor in meeting contractual obligations including meeting applicable standards on an annual basis.

Sleep Technologists Staff

Requirements

  • All technical staff must be appropriately trained to assure patient safety.
  • AASM recommends 2:1 patient to technician ratio under usual circumstances.
  • Must be licensed, where required by state law.
  • Must be trained on proper use of HSAT devices to include: operations, application of sensors, use, maintenance, warnings and safety; instruction to patient on use; troubleshooting and infection control.

Registered Sleep Technologist

Requirements

  • At least one technical staff member must be registered by the, ABSM, NBRC or BRPT (RST, RPSGT, RRT-SDS) or accepted to sit for the registry examination.
  • The registered technologist must be on site a minimum of 30 hours per week (this requirement can be met with multiple individuals).
  • Submit
  • A copy of the registry certificate by one of the approved providers (ABSM, NBRC, or BRPT).
  • A copy of the state license for polysomnography, if state requires such a license.
  • Copy of current valid CPR that includes both cognitive and skills training.

Non-Registered Sleep Technologists

Requirements

  • Must be enrolled in or completed the A-STEP on-line self-study modules within 2 years of enrollment; or
  • Must be enrolled in or completed a CAAHEP or CoARC program.
  • Submit
  • Proof of enrollment in A-STEP plus evidence of completion of at least one module.
  • Evidence of enrollment in a current accredited CAAHEP or CoARC program with polysomnography option.
  • Certificate of completion from an accredited CAAHEP or CoARC program in polysomnography option.

Scoring Personnel

Requirements

  • Must be a RST, RPSGT, CPSGT, CRT-SDS, or RRT-SDS or medical staff member or PhD board certified in sleep.
  • Scoring sleep technicians that are non-registered, must be supervised by one of the above credentialed staff members.

Key Things to Keep In Mind

  • Online training for CPR is acceptable provided evidence of skills training is also submitted.
  • Sub-contracted scorers do not need to be listed in the accreditation application.
  • Non-registered sleep technicians are to complete all A-STEP online self-study modules within a 2-year timeframe.
    • If all modules are not completed within 2 years, the non-registered technologist must re-enroll.
  • If facility is opened less than 40 hours/week the registered tech must then be present 75% of operating hours.
  • If facility loses its sole registered sleep technologist, the AASM must be notified.
  • If non-registered staff also score, supervision by an appropriate credentialed staff member must be evident in a written policy.
  • Licensure alone does not meet evidence of registration by ABSM, NBRC, or BRPT.
  • RRT Licenses are not required to be submitted.
  • The Star designated program (BRPT) is not accepted as evidence of completion of CAAHEP, CoARC or A-STEP programs.