Definitions

As used in this part, the term: (1) “Board” means the Board of Respiratory Care. (2) “Certified respiratory therapist” means any person licensed pursuant to this part who is certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care or its successor; who is employed to deliver respiratory care services, under the order of a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459, in accordance with protocols established by a hospital or other health care provider or the board; and who functions in situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring individual judgment. (3) “Critical care” means care given to a patient in any setting involving a life-threatening emergency. (4) “Department” means the Department of Health. (5) “Direct supervision” means practicing under the direction of a licensed, registered, or certified respiratory therapist who is physically on the premises and readily available, as defined by the board. (6) “Physician supervision” means supervision and control by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who assumes the legal liability for the services rendered by the personnel employed in his or her office. Except in the case of an emergency, physician supervision requires the easy availability of the physician within the office or the physical presence of the physician for consultation and direction of the actions of the persons who deliver respiratory care services. (7) “Practice of respiratory care” or “respiratory therapy” means the allied health specialty associated with the cardiopulmonary system that is practiced under the orders of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 and in accordance with protocols, policies, and procedures established by a hospital or other health care provider or the board, including the assessment, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, management, control, rehabilitation, education, and care of patients in all care settings. (8) “Registered respiratory therapist” means any person licensed under this part who is registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care or its successor, and who is employed to deliver respiratory care services under the order of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, in accordance with protocols established by a hospital or other health care provider or the board, and who functions in situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring individual judgment. (9) “Respiratory care practitioner” means any person licensed under this part who is employed to deliver respiratory care services, under direct supervision, pursuant to the order of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459. (10) “Respiratory care services” includes: (a) Evaluation and disease management. (b) Diagnostic and therapeutic use of respiratory equipment, devices, or medical gas. (c) Administration of drugs, as duly ordered or prescribed by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 and in accordance with protocols, policies, and procedures established by a hospital or other health care provider or the board. (d) Initiation, management, and maintenance of equipment to assist and support ventilation and respiration. (e) Diagnostic procedures, research, and therapeutic treatment and procedures, including measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressures, and flows; specimen collection and analysis of blood for gas transport and acid/base determinations; pulmonary-function testing; and other related physiological monitoring of cardiopulmonary systems. (f) Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. (g) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced cardiac life support, neonatal resuscitation, and pediatric advanced life support, or equivalent functions. (h) Insertion and maintenance of artificial airways and intravascular catheters. (i) Education of patients, families, the public, or other health care providers, including disease process and management programs and smoking prevention and cessation programs. (j) Initiation and management of hyperbaric oxygen.