SECTION 310:667-23-6. Respiratory therapy

(a)   The respiratory therapy service shall be under the supervision of a qualified physician or physicians. Respiratory therapy services, including equipment, shall be supervised by a licensed respiratory therapist.

(b)   Services may be performed by other respiratory care practitioners as long as a licensed respiratory therapist is readily available for consultation.

(c)   Respiratory care practitioners shall be on the premises whenever continuous ventilatory support is provided to patients.

(d)   All respiratory therapy personnel shall be trained in the following:

(1)   CPR techniques.

(2)   Patient isolation techniques.

(3)   Safety rules and regulations for oxygen and oxygen equipment.

(e)   There shall be written policies and procedures, approved by the physician director and/or medical staff, which shall include, in addition to the above named items, the following:

(1)   Each procedure performed by each employee shall be designated in writing by the department head and shall include the amount of supervision required when performing the procedure.

(2)   Fire safety and other safety procedures for the use of oxygen in a facility.

(3)   Handling, storage and dispensing of therapeutic gasses.

(4)   Infection control measures that address frequency of changing disposable equipment and frequency of cleaning reusable equipment.

(5)   Assembly, operation, and maintenance of equipment.

(6)   Steps to take in the event of an adverse reaction.

(7)   Cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing procedures.

(f)   If arterial blood gasses are performed, the respiratory therapy department shall meet the provisions of 42 CFR part 493 (CLIA '88).

(g)   All respiratory therapy orders shall:

(1)   Originate from a physician or licensed independent practitioner.

(2)   Specify the type, frequency, duration of treatment, and, if needed, the dose of medication.

(h)   Respiratory therapy reports of pulmonary function studies shall be prepared in duplicate and signed by the respiratory care practitioner responsible for the test or procedure. The original shall be placed in the patient's medical record and the duplicate shall be retained in the department.

[Source: Added at 12 Ok Reg 1555, eff 4-12-95 (emergency); Added at 12 Ok Reg 2429, eff 6-26-95; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1664, eff 6-12-03]