This section defines key respiratory care terms and says respiratory care must be performed under a licensed physician’s supervision; it also bans respiratory care practitioners from prescribing controlled substances.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: “Board” means the board of respiratory care; “Certified respiratory therapist” means any person who has obtained the credential “certified respiratory therapist” (CRT) or the credential “certified respiratory therapy technician” (CRTT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care; “Division” means the division of health related boards as defined by § 68-1-101; “Practice of respiratory care” means, under the supervision, control and responsibility of a licensed physician, the therapy, management, education and instruction, rehabilitation, diagnostic testing evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the cardiorespiratory system and associated aspects of other system functions. “Practice of respiratory care” also means, under the supervision, control and responsibility of a licensed physician, the performance of cardiorespiratory research, cardiorespiratory health promotion and disease prevention, and community wellness and education programs. “Practice of respiratory care” includes, under the supervision, control and responsibility of a licensed physician: The administration of pharmacologic agents and medical gasses necessary to diagnose, implement treatment, promote disease prevention, and provide rehabilitation to the cardiorespiratory system. In no event, however, shall a respiratory care practitioner prescribe controlled substances of any kind; The performance of specific diagnostic and testing techniques employed in the medical management of patients to assist in diagnosis, patient and family education, monitoring, treatment, maintenance of patient health status, and cardiorespiratory research including, but not limited to, pulmonary function testing, hemodynamic and physiologic monitoring and diagnosis of cardiac function, and specimen collection and analysis; The establishment and maintenance of the airways, bronchopulmonary hygiene, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and cardiac and respiratory life support; and The receipt and implementation of written and verbal physician orders and the development and implementation of care plans and protocols; The practice of respiratory care may be performed in an inpatient or outpatient setting, clinic, hospital, nursing home facility, private dwelling, or other place deemed appropriate or necessary; Registered respiratory therapists, certified respiratory therapists, and respiratory assistants who have been issued a license or certificate by the board, pursuant to the authority of § 63-27-104(a)(1) , shall be exempt from any licensing, certification or permit requirements of the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Act, compiled in title 68, chapter 29, as amended, for medical laboratory personnel or medical laboratory trainees insofar as they engage in performing blood gases and PH analyses; “Registered respiratory therapist” means any person who has obtained the credential “registered respiratory therapist” (RRT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care; “Respiratory assistant” or “assistant” means any person certified as such pursuant to this chapter, who has: Received on-the-job training equivalent to at least one thousand (1,000) hours of clinical training in respiratory care, during an eighteen (18) consecutive month period; provided, that such training shall have been received under supervision of either a: Registered respiratory therapist; Certified respiratory therapist; or Licensed physician experienced in respiratory care; and Passed a board-approved examination for respiratory assistants. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) entry level examination, as provided to the board by the NBRC, by contract, is the examination accepted by the board. This examination will not grant the respiratory assistant the NBRC credential. In addition, the board reserves the right to write its own state board examination or contract with other national testing organizations; and “Respiratory care practitioner” means a registered respiratory therapist, a certified respiratory therapist, or a respiratory assistant licensed under this chapter. Acts 1986, ch. 610, § 1; 1987, ch. 192, §§ 12, 13; T.C.A., § 63-6-402 ; Acts 1998, ch. 1106, §§ 1-4, 25-30, 50, 55; 2000, ch. 621, §§ 1-3; 2002, ch. 662, § 1.