(A) No person shall offer or render respiratory care services, or represent that the person is a respiratory care professional, respiratory therapist, respiratory technologist, respiratory care technician, respiratory practitioner, inhalation therapist, inhalation technologist, or inhalation therapy technician, or to have any similar title or to provide these services under a similar description, unless the person holds a license or limited permit issued under this chapter. No partnership, association, or corporation shall advertise or otherwise offer to provide or convey the impression that it is providing respiratory care unless an individual holding a license or limited permit issued under this chapter is employed by or under contract with the partnership, association, or corporation and will be performing the respiratory care services to which reference is made.

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (A) of this section, all of the following apply:

(1) In the case of a hospital or nursing facility, some limited aspects of respiratory care services such as measuring blood pressure and taking blood samples may be performed by persons demonstrating current competence in such procedures, as long as the person acts under the direction of a physician or the delegation of a registered nurse and the person does not represent that the person is engaged in the practice of respiratory care. The above limited aspects of respiratory care do not include any of the following: the administration of aerosol medication, the maintenance of patients on mechanical ventilators, aspiration, and the application and maintenance of artificial airways.

(2) In the case of a facility, institution, or other setting that exists for a purpose substantially other than the provision of health care, if nursing tasks are delegated by a registered nurse as provided in Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under it, respiratory care tasks may be performed under that delegation by persons demonstrating current competence in performing the tasks, as long as the person does not represent that the person is engaged in the practice of respiratory care.

(3) A polysomnographic technologist credentialed by an organization the state medical board recognizes, a trainee under the direct supervision of a polysomnographic technologist credentialed by an organization the board recognizes, or a person the board recognizes as being eligible to be credentialed as a polysomnographic technologist may perform the respiratory care tasks specified in rules adopted under section 4761.03 of the Revised Code, as long as both of the following apply:

(a) The tasks are performed in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of sleep-related breathing disorders and under the general supervision of a physician.

(b) The person performing the tasks does not represent that the person is engaged in the practice of respiratory care.

(C) The attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of any county in which the offense was committed or the offender resides, the state medical board, or any other person having knowledge of a person who either directly or by complicity is in violation of this section, may, in accordance with provisions of the Revised Code governing injunctions, maintain an action in the name of the state to enjoin any person from engaging either directly or by complicity in the unlawful activity by applying for an injunction in the Franklin county court of common pleas or any other court of competent jurisdiction.

Prior to application for such injunction, the secretary of the state medical board shall notify the person allegedly engaged either directly or by complicity in the unlawful activity by registered mail that the secretary has received information indicating that this person is so engaged. The person shall answer the secretary within thirty days showing that the person is either properly licensed for the stated activity or that the person is not in violation of this chapter. If the answer is not forthcoming within thirty days after notice by the secretary, the secretary shall request that the attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the offense was committed or the offender resides, or the state medical board proceed as authorized in this section.

Upon the filing of a verified petition in court, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition and shall give the same preference to this proceeding as is given all proceedings under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, irrespective of the position of the proceeding on the calendar of the court. Injunction proceedings shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all penalties and other remedies provided under this chapter.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 145, §1, eff. 2/8/2018.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §130.11, eff. 1/21/2018.

Effective Date: 10-27-2000 .