645—265.5(152B,272C) Respiratory care as a practice. “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.
[ARC 8076C, IAB 6/26/24, effective 7/31/24]