Colorado § 12-300-104 Definitions

Colorado Statutes

§ 12-300-104 — Definitions

Colorado § 12-300-104

Title 12Professions

Art.Respiratory Therapists

This text of Colorado § 12-300-104 (Definitions) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-300-104 (2026).

Text

As used in this article 300, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)Medical director means a licensed physician who holds such title in any inpatient or outpatient facility, department, or home care agency, and who is responsible for the quality, safety, and appropriateness of the respiratory therapy provided.

(2)Respiratory therapist means a person who is licensed to practice respiratory therapy pursuant to this article 300.

(3)Respiratory therapy means providing therapy, management, rehabilitation, support services for diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the pulmonary system under the overall direction of a medical director. Respiratory therapy includes the following:

(a)Direct and indirect pulmonary care services

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As used in this article 300, unless the context
otherwise requires:

(1) Medical director means a licensed physician who holds such title in any
inpatient or outpatient facility, department, or home care agency, and who is
responsible for the quality, safety, and appropriateness of the respiratory therapy
provided.

(2) Respiratory therapist means a person who is licensed to practice
respiratory therapy pursuant to this article 300.

(3) Respiratory therapy means providing therapy, management,
rehabilitation, support services for diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with
deficiencies and abnormalities that affect the pulmonary system under the overall
direction of a medical director. Respiratory therapy includes the following:

(a) Direct and indirect pulmonary care services that are safe, aseptic,
preventive, and restorative to the patient;

(b) The teaching or instruction of the techniques and skill of respiratory care
whether or not in a formal educational setting;

(c) Direct and indirect respiratory care services, including the administration
of pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic agents related to respiratory care
procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, and
pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician, a
physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a certified midwife;

(d) Observation and monitoring of signs, symptoms, reactions, general
behavior, and general physical response to respiratory care treatment and
diagnostic testing for:

(I) The determination of whether such signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior,
or general response exhibit abnormal characteristics; or

(II) The implementation based on observed abnormalities of appropriate
reporting, referral, or respiratory care protocols or changes in treatment regimen
pursuant to a prescription by a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced
practice registered nurse, or a certified midwife or the initiation of emergency
procedures;

(e) The diagnostic and therapeutic use of the following in accordance with
the prescription of a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice
registered nurse, or a certified midwife:

(I) Administration of medical gases, exclusive of general anesthesia;

(II) Aerosols;

(III) Humidification;

(IV) Environmental control systems and biomedical therapy;

(V) Pharmacologic agents related to respiratory care procedures;

(VI) Mechanical or physiological ventilatory support;

(VII) Bronchopulmonary hygiene;

(VIII) Respiratory protocol and evaluation;

(IX) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(X) Maintenance of the natural airways;

(XI) Insertion and maintenance of artificial airways;

(XII) Diagnostic and testing techniques required for implementation of
respiratory care protocols;

(XIII) Collection of specimens from the respiratory tract; or

(XIV) Analysis of blood gases and respiratory secretions and participation in
cardiopulmonary research; and

(f) The transcription and implementation of the written and verbal orders of a
physician pertaining to the practice of respiratory care.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1578, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2023: (3)(c), (3)(d)(II), and (3)(e) amended, (SB 23-167), ch. 261, p. 1546, � 51, effective May 25. L. 2024: (3)(c), (3)(d)(II), and (3)(e) amended, (HB 24-1253), ch. 179, p. 973, � 3, effective August 7.