Ala. Admin. Code r. 798-X-2-.01 - Definitions

(1) AARC - American Association for Respiratory Care.

(2) Applicant - any individual seeking licensure by the Board who has submitted an official application and paid the application fee.

(3) ASBRT - The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy.

(4) ASRC - Alabama Society for Respiratory Care.

(5) Biannual - every two years.

(6) Board - The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy.

(7) CAAHEP - the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

(8) CoARC - Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

(9) CRCE units - Continuing respiratory care education units.

(10) CRT - Certified Respiratory Therapist as granted by the NBRC or its successor organization.

(11) Currently employed - persons employed in the administration of respiratory therapy under the direction of a physician in the State of Alabama on the effective date of the adoption of the rules and regulations, or were employed in the administration of respiratory therapy under the direction of a physician in the State of Alabama in the previous 365 days.

(12) Direct clinical supervision - A situation where a licensed respiratory therapist or physician is available for the purpose of communication, consultation, and assistance.

(13) Healthcare facility - Hospitals, nursing homes, and other inpatient treatment facilities as defined in Section 22-21-260, Code of Ala 1975.

(14) Hemodynamic monitoring - Setup and maintenance of pressure transducers for monitoring arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure and pulmonary artery pressures; drawing mixed venous blood gases from pulmonary artery catheters and calculating cardiac and vascular parameters, measuring cardiac output using a pulmonary artery catheter, recognizing normal and abnormal cardiac and vascular pressures and flow tracings.

(15) Hospital - Hospitals as defined by Section 22-21-20, Code of Ala 1975.

(16) Licensed respiratory therapist - a person licensed by the Board to administer respiratory therapy and who has the knowledge and skills necessary to administer respiratory therapy, monitor patient responses, modify respiratory therapy based upon patient response, provide information and education to patients about deficiencies or disorders of the cardiopulmonary system, and supervise others in the delivery of appropriate respiratory therapy procedures.

(17) Medically approved protocol - A healthcare facility's plan for taking specific diagnostic or treatment actions, or both, authorized by the treating physician of the patient, all of which actions shall be:

(a) In a hospital or other inpatient healthcare facility, approved by the supervising physician of the respiratory therapist or in an outpatient treatment setting approved by the supervising physician of the respiratory therapist.

(b) Except in cases of medical emergency, instituted following an evaluation of the patient by the physician or otherwise directed by the supervising physician of the respiratory therapist.

(c) Consistent with the definition of the scope of practice of respiratory therapy, as established by this act.

(18) NBRC - National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.

(19) Outpatient treatment facility - a facility which provides diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services to persons who do not require a stay greater than 23 hours.

(20) Physician - A person who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy licensed to practice.

(21) Preceptor - A teacher or tutor, or specifically as used in these rules, a respiratory therapist licensed in the state of Alabama, who instructs and/or supervises respiratory therapy students in the clinical environment.

(22) Public records - Records maintained by the Board that are reasonably necessary to record the business and activities required to be done or carried out by the Board so that the status and conditions of such business and activities can be known by the public. Public records include records maintained by the Board pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act and records subject to public disclosure under both the Alabama Open Meetings Act and the Alabama Open Records Act.

(a) Public records maintained by the Board include, but are not limited to, the following records:

(i) Board minutes, except those minutes recorded during an executive session that are prohibited from disclosure by the Alabama Open Meetings Act;

(ii) Names and addresses of current licensees;

(iii) Names of persons whose licenses have been suspended, revoked, or denied, including the type, date, infraction, the penalty incurred, and length of the penalty;

(iv) Rules and regulations of the Board, as promulgated and published in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, Sections 41-22-1, et seq., Code of Ala. 1975;

(v) Other written statements of policy or interpretations formulated, adopted, or used by the Board in the discharge of its duties and functions; and

(vi) Final orders, decisions, declaratory rulings, and opinions issued by the Board.

(b) Records maintained by the Board that do not constitute public records include, but are not limited to, records that are confidential or privileged under federal and/or state law and records the disclosure of which would be detrimental to the best interests of the public.

(23) Respiratory therapy or care - therapy, management, rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system and associated aspects of other systems' functions, given by a health care professional under the direction of a physician. The term includes, but is not limited to, the activities listed in the scope of practice conducted upon written prescription, verbal order, or medically approved protocol.

(24) RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist as granted by the NBRC or its successor organization.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 798-X-2-.01

New Rule: Filed May 16, 2005; refilled August 10, 2005; effective September 14, 2005. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXV, Issue No. 10, July 31, 2017, eff. 8/19/2017.

Author: The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-27B-l thru 34-27B-17.