Colorado § 12-300-104 - Definitions.

§ 12-300-104. Definitions.

As used in this article 300, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Medical director" means a licensed physician who holds such title in any inpatient or outpatient facility, department, or home care agency, and who is responsible for the quality, safety, and appropriateness of the respiratory therapy provided.

(2) "Respiratory therapist" means a person who is licensed to practice respiratory therapy pursuant to this article 300.

(3) "Respiratory therapy" means providing therapy, management, rehabilitation, support services for diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the pulmonary system under the overall direction of a medical director. Respiratory therapy includes the following:

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

(b) The teaching or instruction of the techniques and skill of respiratory care whether or not in a formal educational setting;

(c) Direct and indirect respiratory care services, including the administration of pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic agents related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, and pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a certified midwife;

(d) Observation and monitoring of signs, symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing for:

(I) The determination of whether such signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general response exhibit abnormal characteristics; or

(II) The implementation based on observed abnormalities of appropriate reporting, referral, or respiratory care protocols or changes in treatment regimen pursuant to a prescription by a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a certified midwife or the initiation of emergency procedures;

(e) The diagnostic and therapeutic use of the following in accordance with the prescription of a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a certified midwife:

(I) Administration of medical gases, exclusive of general anesthesia;

(II) Aerosols;

(III) Humidification;

(IV) Environmental control systems and biomedical therapy;

(V) Pharmacologic agents related to respiratory care procedures;

(VI) Mechanical or physiological ventilatory support;

(VII) Bronchopulmonary hygiene;

(VIII) Respiratory protocol and evaluation;

(IX) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(X) Maintenance of the natural airways;

(XI) Insertion and maintenance of artificial airways;

(XII) Diagnostic and testing techniques required for implementation of respiratory care protocols;

(XIII) Collection of specimens from the respiratory tract; or

(XIV) Analysis of blood gases and respiratory secretions and participation in cardiopulmonary research; and

(f) The transcription and implementation of the written and verbal orders of a physician pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1578, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2023: (3)(c), (3)(d)(II), and (3)(e) amended, (SB 23-167), ch. 261, p. 1546, § 51, effective May 25. L. 2024: (3)(c), (3)(d)(II), and (3)(e) amended, (HB 24-1253), ch. 179, p. 973, § 3, effective August 7.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-41.5-103 as it existed prior to 2019.