2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 41.5 - Respiratory Therapy Practice Act
§ 12-41.5-110. Exceptions

(1) Repealed.

(2) This article does not prohibit:

(a) (I) Any practice of respiratory therapy that is an integral part of a program of study by students enrolled in an accredited respiratory therapy program. Students enrolled in respiratory therapy education programs shall be identified as "student respiratory therapists" and shall only provide respiratory therapy under direct supervision of a respiratory therapist on the premises who is available for prompt consultation or treatment.

(II) The practice of respiratory therapy by pulmonary function technology students or polysomnographic technology students that is an integral part of a program of study that leads to certification or registration for their respective disciplines. Students enrolled in such programs shall be identified as "student pulmonary functions technologists" or "student polysomnographic technologists" and shall practice only under the direct supervision of a respiratory therapist or physician or under the supervision of an individual exempted from the provisions of this article pursuant to paragraph (g) of this subsection (2).

(III) The practice of respiratory therapy by polysomnographic technologists who are not registered by or do not hold credentials from a nationally recognized organization, but such polysomnographic technologists shall only practice under the supervision of a respiratory therapist, a physician, or an individual exempted from the provisions of this article pursuant to paragraph (g) of this subsection (2).

(b) Self-therapy by a patient or gratuitous therapy by a friend or family member who does not represent himself or herself to be a respiratory therapist;

(c) Any service provided during an emergency that may be included in the definition of the practice of respiratory therapy;

(d) Respiratory therapy services rendered in the course of assigned duties of persons serving in the military or persons working in federal facilities;

(e) Respiratory therapy services rendered in the course of assigned duties of persons delivering oxygen supplies, including the inspection and maintenance of associated apparatus by a person who does not represent himself or herself as a respiratory therapist;

(f) Any person registered, certified, or licensed in this state under this title from engaging in the practice for which such person is registered, certified, or licensed;

(g) The practice of procedures that fall within the definition of respiratory therapy by certified pulmonary function technologists, registered pulmonary function technologists, registered polysomnographic technologists, or others who hold credentials from a nationally recognized organization as determined by the director; except that the scope of practice of a registered polysomnographic technologist must not exceed oxygen titration with pulse oximetry and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation titration;

(h) The instruction or training of persons to administer emergency oxygen during an aquatic emergency, when such instruction or training is provided by an individual who has been certified to conduct such instruction or training by a nationally recognized certifying agency; or

(i) The practice by an unlicensed person of procedures that fall within the definition of respiratory therapy but that do not require the unlicensed person to perform an assessment, to perform an invasive procedure as defined by the director, or to alter care beyond the scope of approved protocols, so long as the unlicensed person is under supervision as determined appropriate by the respiratory therapist and after such respiratory therapist has considered all of the following:

(I) The health status and mental and physical stability of the individual receiving care;

(II) The complexity of the procedures;

(III) The training and competence of the unlicensed person;

(IV) The proximity and availability of the respiratory therapist when the procedures are performed;

(V) The degree of supervision required for the unlicensed person;

(VI) The length and number of times that the procedure may be performed; and

(VII) The predictability of the outcome of the procedure.