2005 Idaho Code - 54-4303 — DEFINITIONS

                                  TITLE  54
                    PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES
                                  CHAPTER 43
                        RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICE ACT
    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).