For the purposes of this chapter:

"Department" means the department of commerce and consumer affairs.

"Director" means the director of commerce and consumer affairs.

"Licensed respiratory therapist" means a person:

1. (1) Who engages in the practice of respiratory care and uses the title of licensed respiratory therapist;
2. (2) Who has been issued a license under this chapter; and

3. (3) Whose license is in effect and not revoked, suspended, or encumbered.

   "Practice of respiratory care" means providing assessment, therapy, management, rehabilitation, support services for diagnostic evaluation, education, and care for patients with deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the pulmonary system, including:

4. (1) Respiratory care services, including the administration of pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic care related to respiratory care procedures necessary for treatment, disease prevention, rehabilitative, or diagnostic regimens prescribed by a physician or an osteopathic physician licensed pursuant to chapter 453, a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 453, or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 457;
5. (2) Observation and monitoring of signs, symptoms, reactions, and physical responses to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing;

6. (3) Diagnostic or therapeutic use of:

   1. (A) Medical gases, excluding general anesthesia;
   2. (B) Aerosols, humidification, environmental control systems, or invasive and non-invasive modalities;
   3. (C) Pharmacological care related to respiratory care procedures;
   4. (D) Mechanical or physiological ventilatory support, including maintenance of natural airways and insertion and maintenance of artificial airways;
   5. (E) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
   6. (F) Respiratory protocol and evaluation or diagnostic and testing techniques required for implementation of respiratory care protocols; and

7. (4) The transcription and implementation of the written, verbal, and telecommunicated orders of a licensed physician, licensed osteopathic physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse, pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.

   "Qualified direction" means ready access by a respiratory therapist to a licensed physician, licensed osteopathic physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse, who has specialty training or experience in the management of acute and chronic respiratory disorders and who is responsible for the quality, safety, and appropriateness of the respiratory services provided by the respiratory therapist.

[L 2010, c 178, pt of §2; am L 2023, c 102, §2]

Note

Definition of "qualified medical direction" changed to "qualified direction". L 2023, c 102, §2.