§ 33-43-102 — Definitions

(a) As used in this chapter:
(i) "Board" means the state board for respiratory
care;
(ii) "Performance of respiratory care" means
respiratory care in accordance with the prescription or verbal
order of a licensed physician or other authorized health care
professional and includes the diagnostic and therapeutic use of
the following:
(A) Administration of aerosols, humidification
and medical gases, except for the purpose of anesthesia;
(B) Hyperbaric therapy;
(C) Pharmacologic agents related to respiratory
care procedures;
(D) Mechanical or physiological ventilatory
support;
(E) Bronchopulmonary hygiene;
(F) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(G) Maintenance of the natural airway;
(H) Insertion and maintenance of artificial
airways;
(J) Specific diagnostic and testing techniques
employed in the monitoring, treatment and research of pulmonary
abnormalities, including measurements of ventilatory volumes,
pressures and flows, collection of specimens of blood and blood
gases, expired and inspired gas samples, respiratory secretions
and pulmonary function testing;
(K) Hemodynamic and other related physiologic
measurements of the cardiopulmonary system;
(M) Respiratory care telecommunications;
(N) Cardiopulmonary disease management;
(O) Tobacco cessation;
(P) Sleep diagnostic procedures; and
(Q) Neurodiagnostics.
(iii) "Practice of respiratory care" means services
which may be performed in any clinic, hospital, skilled nursing
facility and private dwelling or other place deemed appropriate
or necessary by the board, in accordance with the prescription
or verbal order of a physician or other authorized health care
professional and shall be performed under the supervision of a
qualified medical director and shall include:
(A) 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, pulmonary rehabilitative, or diagnostic regimen
prescribed by a physician or other authorized health care
professional;
(B) Transcription and implementation of the
written or verbal orders of a physician or other authorized
health care professional pertaining to the practice of
respiratory care;
(C) Observing and monitoring signs and symptoms,
general behavior, general physical response to respiratory care
treatment and diagnostic testing, including determining whether
the signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior or general response
exhibit abnormal characteristics;
(D) Implementation, based on observed
abnormalities, of appropriate reporting, referral, respiratory
care protocols or changes in treatment, pursuant to a
prescription by a person authorized to practice medicine under
the laws of the state of Wyoming;
(E) Initiation of emergency procedures under the
regulations of the board or as otherwise permitted in this act.
(iv) "Qualified medical director" means a licensed
physician who has a special interest in the diagnosis and
treatment of respiratory problems. The physician shall be,
wherever possible, qualified by special training or experience
in the management of acute and chronic respiratory disorders.
The physician shall be competent to monitor and assess the
quality, safety and appropriateness of the respiratory care
services being provided. The medical director shall be
accessible to and assure the competency of the respiratory care
practitioner as well as require that respiratory care be ordered
by a physician who has medical responsibility for that patient;
(v) "Respiratory care" means the allied health
profession responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic
testing and control of patients with deficiencies and
abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary systems under
the supervision of a qualified medical director and includes the
terms "inhalation therapy" and "respiratory therapy";
(vi) "Respiratory care practitioner" means:
(A) A person employed in the practice of
respiratory care who has the knowledge and skill necessary to
administer respiratory care as defined in paragraphs (ii) and
(iii) of this subsection;
(B) A person who is capable of serving as a
resource to the physician in relation to the technical aspects
of respiratory care as to safe and effective methods for
administering respiratory care modalities;
(C) A person who is able to function in
situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring individual
judgment; and
(D) A person capable of supervising, directing
or teaching less skilled personnel in the provision of
respiratory care services.
(vii) "This act" means W.S. 33-43-101 through