Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) For the purposes of this section, the
following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise and except as otherwise expressly provided:
"Assistant" means a respiratory assistant, respiratory aide,
equipment technician or any other unlicensed person to whom a licensed
respiratory care practitioner delegates tasks as set forth in (d) below.
"Inpatient setting" means residential care facilities,
hospitals, subacute care facilities and skilled nursing care facilities.
"Outpatient setting" means assisted living facilities and
home care.
(b) A licensed
respiratory care practitioner may delegate the tasks set forth in (d) below to
an individual employed as an assistant, provided the assistant has received a
level of training necessary to ensure that the assistant can satisfactorily
complete the outlined activities.
1. The
licensed respiratory care practitioner shall ensure that training records are
completed and kept in the assistant's file. The training records shall include
the following:
i. The dates upon which each
training session occurred;
ii. The
length of each training session;
iii. The topics addressed during each
training session; and
iv. Whether
the assistant demonstrated satisfactory skill in each task.
2. The licensed respiratory care practitioner
shall ensure that an assistant to whom the tasks set forth in (d) below are
delegated is reevaluated on an annual basis to ensure continued competency to
perform the outlined activities. Documentation related to such reevaluation
shall be included in the assistant's file.
(c) Activities that a licensed respiratory
care practitioner may delegate to assistants are limited to the following
routine tasks:
1. Disassembling, cleaning,
disinfecting, sterilizing, assembling, and delivery of all respiratory
equipment;
2. Demonstrating and
replacing basic respiratory, non-assisted ventilation, and oxygen equipment.
Demonstrating or replacing such equipment shall not include administration of
medication; and
3. Maintaining and
safe handling of oxygen, specialty gas cylinders, and oxygen concentrators,
including the performance of oxygen checks and charges.
(d) A licensed respiratory care practitioner
shall be responsible for any activities which an assistant performs pursuant to
(d) above.
(e) The licensed
respiratory care practitioner who delegates tasks set forth in (d) above in an
outpatient setting shall ensure that a follow-up visit from a licensee or a
person exempt from respiratory care licensure pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
45:14E-9.c takes place consistent with the
following:
1. Except as provided in (f)2
below, within 24 hours of the delivery of the equipment, including compressors,
concentrators, and cylinders that could be used in conjunction with an
artificial airway, including transtracheal oxygen catheters, to the patient for
the purpose of conducting an in-person assessment of the equipment and
patient.
2. Within 72 hours of the
delivery of compressors, concentrators, and cylinders, except for those that
could be used in conjunction with an artificial airway, including transtracheal
oxygen catheters.
3. The follow-up
visit shall be documented in writing.
i. The
documentation of the follow-up visit shall be maintained for all patients
during the course of respiratory care, and for a period of one year following
the termination of respiratory care services.
ii. The documentation of the follow-up visit
shall be available for the Board's inspection on the business premises of the
licensee or person exempt from licensure who conducts the follow-up visit,
within 12 business hours of the Board's request. For the purposes of this
section, "business hours" is defined as the hours between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00
P.M. Monday through Friday.
