PURPOSE: This rule specifies the requirements for respiratory care services in a hospital.

1. (1) Respiratory care services, if provided, shall be under the medical direction of a qualified physician member of the medical staff and appointed by the governing body. The director shall be responsible for implementing rules of the medical staff governing the quality and scope of respiratory care services.
2. (2) Respiratory care services shall be integrated within the total hospital organizational plan.
3. (3) Respiratory care services shall be under the direction of a licensed respiratory care practitioner or a registered professional nurse with relevant education and experience. When the director is not a licensed respiratory care practitioner, a licensed respiratory care practitioner shall be employed on a parttime consultant basis.
4. (4) Therapy shall be administered in accordance with the orders of a qualified and licensed practitioner and shall be documented in the patient’s medical record.
5. (5) Respiratory care services shall be provided by qualified personnel as specified by the medical staff.
6. (6) Approved written policies and procedures which define and describe the scope and conduct of respiratory care shall be reviewed and kept current per hospital policy and readily available to staff.
7. (7) Personnel administering respiratory therapy services shall evaluate and reevaluate the therapy administered and this shall be documented in the patient’s medical record.
8. (8) Space and equipment shall be provided to meet the needs of respiratory care services. Space, supplies, and equipment shall be maintained to ensure patient safety.
9. (9) There shall be a process for the review and evaluation on a regular basis of the quality and appropriateness of respiratory care services provided.

AUTHORITY: section 192.006, RSMo 2000, and sections 197.080 and 197.154, RSMo Supp. 2013.* This rule previously filed as 19 CSR 30-20.021(4)(J). Original rule filed June 27, 2007, effective Feb. 29, 2008. Amended: Filed Dec. 31, 2013, effective Aug. 30, 2014.

*Original authority: 192.006, RSMo 1993, amended 1995; 197.080, RSMo 1953, amended 1993, 1995; and 197.154, RSMo 2004.