North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 21 - OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS › Chapter 61 - RESPIRATORY CARE BOARD › Section .0100 - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 61 .0103 - DEFINITIONS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
The definitions of terms contained in
				  G.S.
				  90-648 shall apply to the rules in this
				  Chapter. In addition, the following definitions shall apply to the rules in
				  this Chapter:
(1) "Assessment" means a
				clinical evaluation of an individual patient by a Respiratory Care Practitioner
				(RCP) or other licensed health care provider within their scope of practice to
				determine the ability and efficacy of a respiratory care procedure, protocol,
				or treatment, including an assessment of the suitability and efficacy of
				equipment for an individual patient if equipment is to be used in the procedure
				or treatment.
(2) "Respiratory
				care" means the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of
				optimum cardiopulmonary function and health and wellness using scientific
				principles to identify, treat and prevent acute or chronic dysfunction of the
				cardiopulmonary system pursuant to
				G.S.
				90-648(11) that is taught in
				accredited educational programs pursuant to
				G.S.
				90-653(3) or in approved
				continuing education programs pursuant to the rules of this Chapter within the
				guidelines established by the American Association for Respiratory Care,
				incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions,
				pursuant to
				G.S.
				90-648(10)(f). Copies of the
				guidelines may be found at
https://www.aarc.org/resources/clinical-resources/clinical-practice-guidelines/
at no cost.
(3) "The practice of
				respiratory care" means the performance of assessments and diagnostic tests,
				and implementation of treatment procedures and protocols related to the
				cardiopulmonary system pursuant to
				G.S.
				90-648(10) and the
				activities defined by the American Association of Respiratory Care clinical
				guidelines, incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and
				editions, pursuant to
				G.S.
				90-648(10)(f). Copies of the
				guidelines may be found at
https://www.aarc.org/resources/clinical-resources/clinical-practice-guidelines/
at no cost.
(4) "Medical gases"
				mean those inhaled gases used in the treatment of cardiopulmonary
				disease.
(5) "Humidity" means
				adding heat or moisture to an inhaled medical gas.
(6) "Aerosols" mean the suspension of
				particles dispersed in air or gas to deliver medication or humidity to the
				airways.
(7) "Pharmacologic agent"
				means a medication or medical gas delivered during a respiratory care procedure
				for the treatment of cardiopulmonary disease.
(8) "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy" means
				inhalation of high concentrations of oxygen at increased levels of atmospheric
				pressures within a total body chamber for the treatment of cardiopulmonary
				disorders or wounds.
(9)
				"Mechanical or physiological ventilatory support" means the provision of an
				apparatus to support gas exchange associated with cardiopulmonary
				dysfunction.
(10) "Hemodynamic
				monitoring" means a procedure required to monitor blood pressure invasively or
				noninvasively.
(11) "Diagnostic
				testing" means a procedure for assessing the function of the cardiopulmonary
				system and diagnosing cardiopulmonary disease or sleep related
				disorders.
(12) "Therapeutic
				application" means utilizing evidenced-based protocols, procedures, treatments,
				or modalities defined in this Chapter to maintain cardiopulmonary health or
				treat cardiopulmonary disease.
(13)
				"Active status" means a license issued to an individual after meeting the
				requirements of
				G.S.
				90-653.
(14) "Endorsement" means a license issued by
				the Board recognizing the person named on the certificate as having met the
				requirements to perform respiratory care procedures pursuant to the rules of
				this Chapter.
Authority
				  G.S.
				  90-652;
				  90-648(2),(10), and
				  (11);
				  90-660;
Temporary
				  Adoption Eff. October 15, 2001;
Eff. August 1, 2002;
Amended Eff. September 1, 2010; January 1, 2007; March 1, 2006;
Pursuant to
				  G.S.
				  150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
				  substantive public interest Eff. August 22, 2015;
Amended Eff. July
				  1, 2018.