2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 41.5 - Respiratory Therapy Practice Act
§ 12-41.5-103. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Director" means the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies.

(2) "Division" means the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies created in section 24-34-102, C.R.S.

(3) "Licensee" means a respiratory therapist licensed pursuant to this article.

(4) "Medical director" means a licensed physician who holds such title in any inpatient or outpatient facility, department, or home care agency, and who is responsible for the quality, safety, and appropriateness of the respiratory therapy provided.

(5) "Respiratory therapist" means a person who is licensed to practice respiratory therapy pursuant to this article.

(6) "Respiratory therapy" means providing therapy, management, rehabilitation, support services for diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities which affect the pulmonary system under the overall direction of a medical director. Respiratory therapy includes the following:

(a) Direct and indirect pulmonary care services that are safe, aseptic, preventive, and restorative to the patient;

(b) The teaching or instruction of the techniques and skill of respiratory care whether or not in a formal educational setting;

(c) Direct and indirect respiratory care services including but not limited to the administration of pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic agents related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, and pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or advanced practice nurse;

(d) Observation and monitoring of signs, symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing for:

(I) The determination of whether such signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general response exhibit abnormal characteristics; or

(II) The implementation based on observed abnormalities of appropriate reporting, referral, or respiratory care protocols or changes in treatment regimen pursuant to a prescription by a physician or advanced practice nurse or the initiation of emergency procedures;

(e) The diagnostic and therapeutic use of the following in accordance with the prescription of a physician or advanced practice nurse: Administration of medical gases, exclusive of general anesthesia; aerosols; humidification; environmental control systems and biomedical therapy; pharmacologic agents related to respiratory care procedures; mechanical or physiological ventilatory support; bronchopulmonary hygiene; respiratory protocol and evaluation; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; maintenance of the natural airways; insertion and maintenance of artificial airways; diagnostic and testing techniques required for implementation of respiratory care protocols; collection of specimens from the respiratory tract; or analysis of blood gases and respiratory secretions and participation in cardiopulmonary research; and

(f) The transcription and implementation of the written and verbal orders of a physician pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.