Oklahoma § 59-2027 - Definitions

§ 59-2027. Definitions

As used in the Respiratory Care Practice Act:

1. "Board" means the State Board of Medical Licensure and

Supervision;

2. "Practice of respiratory care" shall include, but not be

limited to, the direct and indirect respiratory care services

including but not limited to the administration of medical gases,

pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic agents and services

related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement and

administer treatment, ventilatory support, maintenance of the airway

via natural or artificial means, specimen collection, disease

prevention, pulmonary rehabilitation, or diagnostic regimen

prescribed by orders of a physician; observing and monitoring signs

and symptoms, physiologic measurements of the cardiopulmonary

system, general behavior, general physical response to respiratory

care treatment and diagnostic testing, including determination of

whether such signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior or general

response exhibit abnormal characteristics; and implementation, based

on clinical observations, of appropriate reporting, referral,

respiratory care protocol, or changes in treatment, pursuant to a

prescription by a person authorized to practice medicine under the

laws of this state; or the initiation of emergency procedures under

the rules of the Board or as otherwise permitted in the Respiratory

Care Practice Act. The practice of respiratory care shall also

include the terms "inhalation therapy" and "respiratory therapy".

The practice of respiratory care shall not include the delivery,

set-up, installation, maintenance, monitoring and the providing of

instructions on the use of home oxygen and durable medical

equipment;

3. "Qualified medical director" means the licensed physician

responsible for respiratory care services or the licensed physician

designated as such by the clinic, hospital, or employing health care

facility. The physician must be a medical staff member or medical

director of a health care facility licensed by the State Department

of Health;

4. "Respiratory care practitioner" means a person licensed by

this state and employed in the practice of respiratory care; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

5. "Respiratory therapist" means an individual who has

graduated from a respiratory therapist program that is accredited by

the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or an

equivalent national respiratory care educational accreditation

agency as identified by the Respiratory Care Advisory Committee and

approved by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 171, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1995. Amended by Laws

2013, c. 72, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.