D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-7610

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 17-7610 - SCOPE OF PRACTICE

7610.1

A respiratory therapist may practice only in a collaborative agreement with a licensed physician, a nurse practitioner, or a licensed physician assistant under supervision of a licensed physician.

7610.2

The practice of respiratory care includes any of the following:

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

(b) The practice of the principles, techniques, and theories derived from cardiopulmonary medicine;

(c) Evaluation and treatment of individuals whose cardiopulmonary functions have been threatened or impaired by developmental defects, the aging process, physical injury, disease, or actual or anticipated dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system;

(d) Observation and monitoring of physical signs and symptoms, general behavior, and general physical response to respiratory care procedures, and determination of whether initiation, modification, or discontinuation of the treatment regimen is warranted;

(e) The transcription and implementation of a written or oral order, or both, pertaining to the practice of respiratory care;

(f) Evaluation techniques including cardiopulmonary functional assessments, gas exchange, the need and effectiveness of therapeutic modalities and procedures, and assessment and evaluation of the need for extended care and home care procedures, therapy, and equipment;

(g) Professional application of techniques, equipment, and procedures involved in the administration of respiratory care such as:

(1) Therapeutic and diagnostic gases (excluding general anesthesia);

(2) Prescribed medications for inhalation or direct tracheal instillation;

(3) Nonsurgical intubation, maintenance, and extubation of artificial airways;

(4) Advanced cardiopulmonary measures;

(5) Chest needle decompression;

(6) Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation;

(7) Mechanical ventilation or physiological life support systems;

(8) Collection of body fluids and blood samples for evaluation and analysis, including collection by intraosseous access;

(9) Insertion of diagnostic arterial access lines, including large bore intravenous access; or

(10) Collection and analysis of exhaled respiratory gases;

(h) The clinical supervision of licensed respiratory therapists, respiratory care departments, or the provision of any respiratory care services;

(i) The respiratory care clinical instruction or oversight of respiratory care students, while performing respiratory care procedures as part of their clinical curriculum; or

(j) The teaching or instructing of others in the discipline of respiratory care and therapy.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-7610

Final Rulemaking published at 65 DCR 011586 (8/30/2019)