DIVISION 715
RESPIRATORY THERAPIST LICENSING BOARD
LICENSURE; RENEWAL; PRACTICE STANDARDS
331-715-0000
Licensure
(1) Pursuant to ORS 688.805(1) a person shall not practice respiratory care or claim to be a respiratory care practitioner, including that a person shall not display a sign or in any way advertise or purport to be a license holder or to be engaged in the practice of respiratory care without first obtaining a license under 688.815.
(2) Licensees are subject to the provisions of OAR 331-030-0010 regarding the issuance and renewal of a license, and to the provisions of 331-030-0020 regarding the authorization to practice, identification, and requirements for issuance of a duplicate authorization.
(3) Every respiratory care practitioner licensed by the agency shall be licensed under the applicant's legal name and shall function as a respiratory care practitioner under that name.
(4) When a name is changed, the following must be submitted so that the agency's records may reflect the new name:
(a) A signed change of name notification;
(b) A copy of the legal document showing the name change;
(c) Return of the license form issued and payment of replacement fee.
(5) Practitioners who work in more than one facility may carry the license identification card (pocket card) with them, or post in plain view, when working at more than one place of business.
(6) Licensees shall not render respiratory care without written authorization or standing orders from a supervising physician who has been approved by the Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with ORS 682.245.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 676.605, 676.615, 688.830
Stats. Implemented: ORS 676.605, 676.615, 688.830
Hist.: HDLB 1-1997(Temp), f. 12-19-97, cert. ef. 12-22-97 thru
6-19-98; HDLP 1-1998(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 3-20-98 thru 4-1-98;
HDLP 2-1998, f. & cert. ef. 6-15-98; HDLP 2-2001, f. & cert.
ef. 5-1-01; HDLP 3-2001, f. 6-29-01, cert. ef. 7-1-01; HLO 4-2004, f.
6-29-04, cert. ef. 7-1-04
331-715-0010
License Renewal
(1) A license renewal application received by the agency or postmarked after a license has expired but within one year from the expiration date, may be approved upon payment of the renewal and delinquency fees and required verification of continuing education pursuant to OAR 331-720-0010.
(2) A license which has been expired for more than one year, but less than two years may be renewed upon payment of the license renewal and restoration fees and submission of required continuing education documentation pursuant to OAR 331-720-0010.
(3) A license which has been expired two or more years may be reinstated by payment of application and renewal fees, and submission of continuing education documentation pursuant to OAR 331-720-0010 or proof of NBRC retake of entry level examination completed within one year prior to the date of reapplication.
(4) Failure to meet continuing education requirements of OAR 331-720-0010, will require reapplication and qualification for licensure according to the provisions of OAR 331-710-0010(2)(a) or (b).
Stat. Auth.: ORS 676.605, 676.615 &
688.830
Stats. Implemented: ORS 676.605, 676.615 & 688.830
Hist.: HDLB 1-1997(Temp), f. 12-19-97, cert. ef. 12-22-97 thru
6-19-98; HDLP 1-1998(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 3-20-98 thru 4-1-98;
HDLP 2-1998, f. & cert. ef. 6-15-98; HLO 4-2004, f. 6-29-04,
cert. ef. 7-1-04; HLO 10-2004(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 11-8-04 thru
3-31-05; HLO 1-2005, f. 2-28-05 cert. ef. 3-1-05
331-715-0030
Professional Standards
(1) Respiratory care practitioners must comply with the prevailing community standards for professional conduct. The Board recognizes and adopts the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct effective December 1994 and Role Model Statement for Respiratory Care Practitioners effective March 1990 as its professional standards model. A copy of these documents are on file at the agency for review.
(2) At minimum, practitioners shall be subject to directives and policies established by the medical facilities, businesses or agencies by which they are employed or regulated.
(3) Respiratory care practitioners must comply with the following safety and infection control requirements:
(a) All devices or items that come into direct contact with a client shall be cleaned, sanitized or disinfected according to the manufacturer's instructions or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Standard Precautions;
(b) All items that come in direct contact with the client's skin that do not require disinfecting shall be clean;
(c) All items that come in direct contact with the client's skin that cannot be cleaned or disinfected shall be disposed of in a covered waste receptacle immediately after use;
(d) All disinfecting solutions and agents shall be kept at adequate strengths to maintain effectiveness, be free of foreign material and be available for immediate use at all times unless equipment is prepackaged and pre-sterilized;
(e) All high-level and low-level disinfecting agents shall be EPA registered. High-level disinfectant means a chemical agent which has demonstrated tuberculocidal activity. Low-level disinfectant means a chemical agent which has demonstrated bactericidal, germicidal, fungicidal and limited virucidal activity;
(f) Before use, disposable pre-packed products and sterilized re-usable instruments shall be stored in clean, sterilized containers that can be closed between treatments to maintain effective sterilization of the instrument until removed from the container.
(4) Respiratory care practitioners shall observe and follow the Standard Precautions adopted by the CDC as defined in Oregon Administrative Rule 437 division 2, subdivision Z, OAR 331-705-0050(16), and the CDC Standard Precautions for public service workers regarding personal protection equipment and disposal of blood or bodily fluid contaminated articles, tools and equipment when providing services to patients.
(5) Practitioners shall not work under the influence of alcohol or any drugs, including prescription medications, which may impair performance, and shall seek professional assistance through a diversion program if necessary to achieve and maintain freedom from substance abuse.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 676.605, 676.615 & 688.830
Stats. Implemented: ORS 676.605, 676.615 & 688.830
Hist.: HDLB 1-1997(Temp), f. 12-19-97, cert. ef. 12-22-97 thru
6-19-98; HDLP 2-1998, f. & cert. ef. 6-15-98; HLO 4-2004, f.
6-29-04, cert. ef. 7-1-04; HLA 1-2007, f. 3-30-07, cert. ef. 4-1-07
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