Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 645 - Professional Licensure Division › Respiratory Care Practitioners › Chapter 265 - Practice of Respiratory Care Practitioners and Polysomnographic Technologists › Rule 645-265.5 - Respiratory Care as a Practice

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
"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.