"Respiratory care as a practice" means a health care
profession, under medical direction, employed in the therapy, management,
rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies
and abnormalities that affect the pulmonary system and associated aspects of
cardiopulmonary and other systems' functions and includes but is not limited to
the following direct and indirect respiratory care services that are safe, of
comfort, aseptic, preventative, and restorative to the patient:
1. Observing and monitoring signs and
symptoms, general behavior, reactions, and general physical responses to
respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing.
2. Determining whether the signs, symptoms,
behavior, reactions, or general responses exhibit abnormal
characteristics.
3. Performing
pulmonary diagnostic testing.
4.
Analyzing blood gases and respiratory secretions.
5. Measuring and monitoring hemodynamic and
physiologic function related to cardiopulmonary pathophysiology.
6. Performing diagnostic and testing
techniques in the medical management of patients to assist in diagnosis,
monitoring, treatment, and research of pulmonary abnormalities, including
measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressures, and flows; and collection of
specimens of blood and from the respiratory tract.
7. Administering:
* Medical gases, aerosols, and humidification, not including
general anesthesia.
* Lung expansion therapies.
* Bronchopulmonary hygiene therapies.
* Hyperbaric therapy.
* Pharmacologic and therapeutic agents necessary to implement
therapeutic, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative, or diagnostic
regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, surgeon, or other qualified health
care professional prescriber.
8. Maintaining natural and artificial
airways.
9. Without cutting
tissues, inserting and maintaining artificial airways.
10. Initiating, monitoring, modifying and
discontinuing invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation.
11. Performing basic and advanced
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
12.
Performing invasive procedures that relate to respiratory care.
13. Implementing changes in treatment regimen
based on observed abnormalities and respiratory care protocols to include
appropriate reporting and referral.
14. Managing asthma, COPD, and other
respiratory diseases.
15.
Performing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
16. Instructing patients in respiratory care,
functional training in self-care and home respiratory care management and
promoting the maintenance of respiratory care fitness, health, and quality of
life.
17. Performing those advanced
practice procedures that are permitted within the policies of the employing
institution and for which the respiratory care practitioner has documented
training and demonstrated competence.
18. Managing the clinical delivery of
respiratory care services through the ongoing supervision, teaching, and
evaluation of respiratory care.
19.
Transcribing and implementing a written, verbal, or telephonic order from a
licensed physician, surgeon, or other qualified health care professional
prescriber pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.
