54-4303. DEFINITIONS. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Act" means the respiratory care practice act of 1991, chapter 43, title 54, Idaho Code.

(2) "Applicant" means a person who applies for a license, permit or a temporary permit pursuant to this chapter.

(3) "Board" means the Idaho state board of medicine established by and constituted pursuant to section 54-1805, Idaho Code, or any successor section or statute.

(4) "Certified pulmonary function technologist" (CPFT) means the professional designation earned by a person who has successfully completed the entry level pulmonary function certification examination administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc.

(5) "Certified respiratory therapy technician" (CRTT) means the professional designation earned by a person who has successfully completed the entry level examination administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc.

(6) "Entry level examination" means the certification examination for entry level respiratory therapy practitioners administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc., the successful completion of which entitles a person to the professional designation of "certified respiratory therapy technician" (CRTT).

(7) "Licensed physician" means a physician licensed by the board.

(8) "Licensure" means the issuance of a license to an applicant under the provisions of this chapter entitling such person to hold himself out as a respiratory care practitioner and entitling him to practice or perform respiratory care in the state.

(9) "Licensure board" means the licensure board established by this chapter to accept applications under this chapter, to make recommendations and consult with the board and to perform such other duties as may be required or authorized in this chapter or by the board.

(10) "National board for respiratory care, inc." means the nationally recognized private testing, examining and credentialing body for the respiratory care profession.

(11) "Performance of respiratory care" means respiratory care practiced or performed in accordance with the written, telephonic or verbal prescription of a licensed physician and includes, but is not limited to, the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the following: administration of medical gases, (except for the purpose of anesthesia), aerosols and humidification; environmental control mechanisms and hyperbaric therapy; pharmacologic agents related to respiratory care protocols; mechanical or physiological ventilatory support; bronchopulmonary hygiene; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; maintenance of the natural airway; insertion and maintenance of artificial airways; specific diagnostic and testing techniques employed in the medical management of patients to assist in diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and research of pulmonary abnormalities, including measurements of ventilatory volumes, pressures and flows, collection, reporting and analysis of specimens of blood and blood gases, arterial punctures, insertion and maintenance of arterial lines, expired and inspired gas samples, respiratory secretions, and pulmonary function testing; and hemodynamic and other related physiologic measurements of the cardiopulmonary system; observation and monitoring of signs and symptoms, general behavior, general physical response to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing and determination of whether such signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior or general response exhibit abnormal characteristics; implementation based on observed abnormalities of appropriate reporting or referral of respiratory care or changes in treatment regimen, pursuant to a prescription by a physician or the initiation of emergency procedures.

(12) "Person" means an individual.

(13) "Polysomnography" means the process of analysis, attended monitoring and recording of physiologic data during sleep and wakefulness to assist in the assessment and diagnosis of sleep/wake disorders and other disorders, syndromes and dysfunctions that either are sleep related, manifest during sleep or disrupt normal sleep/wake cycles and activities.

(14) "Polysomnography related respiratory care services" means the limited practice of respiratory care in the provision of polysomnography services, under the supervision of an Idaho licensed physician, by a person at a sleep disorder center or laboratory who holds a permit issued by the board as a registered polysomnographic technologist, polysomnographic technician or a polysomnographic trainee, or who is otherwise licensed as a respiratory care practitioner or who is exempt from licensure or permitting pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code. Polysomnography related respiratory care services include therapeutic and diagnostic use of oxygen, noninvasive ventilatory assistance of spontaneously breathing patients and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintenance of nasal and oral airways that do not extend into the trachea, as ordered by an Idaho licensed physician or by written procedures and protocols of the associated sleep disorder center or laboratory as approved by an Idaho licensed physician and which do not violate a rule adopted by the board. This chapter does not in any way authorize the practice of medicine or any of its branches by any person not so licensed by the board. Further, licensed respiratory practitioners, and those exempt from licensure pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, are not limited in their scope of practice of provision of respiratory care which they may provide, including in connection with the provision of polysomnography services.

(15) "Polysomnographic technician" means a person who holds a permit as set forth in section 54-4304A, Idaho Code, and who performs polysomnography related respiratory care services under the supervision of an Idaho permitted registered polysomnographic technologist, licensed respiratory care practitioner or an Idaho licensed physician.

(16) "Polysomnographic trainee" means a person who holds a temporary permit as set forth in section 54-4304A, Idaho Code, and who performs polysomnography related respiratory care services under the direct supervision of an Idaho licensed respiratory care practitioner, or a person exempt from such licensure pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, an Idaho permitted registered polysomnographic technologist, an Idaho permitted polysomnographic technician or an Idaho licensed physician. Direct supervision by an Idaho licensed respiratory care practitioner, or such person exempt from such licensure pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, or an Idaho permitted registered polysomnographic technologist or technician, or an Idaho licensed physician, means that such a person shall be on the premises where such polysomnographic related respiratory care services are provided and shall be immediately available for consultation with the polysomnographic trainee.

(17) "Practice of respiratory care" means, but shall not be limited to, the provision of respiratory and inhalation therapy which shall include, but not be limited to: therapeutic and diagnostic use of medical gases, humidity and aerosols including the maintenance of associated apparatus; administration of drugs and medications to the cardiorespiratory system; provision of ventilatory assistance and ventilatory control; postural drainage, percussion, breathing exercises and other respiratory rehabilitation procedures; cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintenance of natural airways, the insertion and maintenance of artificial airways; and the transcription and implementation of a physician’s written, telephonic or verbal orders pertaining to the practice of respiratory care. It also includes testing techniques employed in respiratory care to assist in diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and research. This shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressures and flows, specimen collection of blood and other materials, pulmonary function testing and hemodynamic and other related physiological monitoring of the cardiopulmonary system. The practice of respiratory care is not limited to the hospital setting but shall be performed under the general supervision of a licensed physician.

(18) "Registered polysomnographic technologist" means a person who holds a permit as set forth in section 54-4304A, Idaho Code, and who works under the supervision of an Idaho licensed physician to provide polysomnography related respiratory care services.

(19) "Respiratory care" means the allied health profession responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system, under the general supervision of a licensed physician.

(20) "Respiratory care practitioner" means a person who has been issued a license by the board under the provisions of this chapter.

(21) "Respiratory care protocols" means policies, procedures or protocols developed or instituted by health care facilities or institutions, through collaboration when appropriate or necessary with administrators, physicians, registered nurses, physical therapists, respiratory care practitioners and other licensed, certified or registered health care practitioners.

(22) "Registered pulmonary function technologist" (RPFT) means the professional designation earned by a person who has successfully completed the advanced pulmonary function certification examination administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc.

(23) "Registered respiratory therapist" (RRT) means the professional designation earned by a person who has successfully completed the written registry and clinical simulation examinations administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc.

(24) "Respiratory therapist" means a person who practices or provides respiratory care.

(25) "Respiratory therapy" means the practice or performance of respiratory care as defined in this chapter including, but not limited to, inhalation therapy.

(26) "Sleep disorder center or laboratory" means a facility for sleep related disorders that provides polysomnography and is under the supervision of an Idaho licensed physician or medical director licensed by the board who is responsible for patient care provided in such center or laboratory. A sleep disorder center or laboratory which provides polysomnography related respiratory care to patients shall have an Idaho licensed respiratory care practitioner, an Idaho permitted registered polysomnographic technologist, an Idaho permitted polysomnographic technician, or a person exempt from licensure or permitting pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, in constant attendance.

(27) "Written registry and clinical simulation examinations" means the certification examinations administered by the national board for respiratory care, inc., the successful completion of which entitles a person the professional designation of "registered respiratory therapist" (RRT).

History:

[54-4303, added 1991, ch. 294, sec. 1, p. 760; am. 2003, ch. 254, sec. 1, p. 655.]