P.R. Laws tit. 20, § 3401
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(a) Respiratory care. — Is the medical science discipline that uses specialized techniques for the handling, control, evaluation, observation and care of patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies or abnormalities and specialized equipment designed for such purposes.
The respiratory care practice includes but is not limited to the therapeutic use of:
(1) Oxygen therapy.
(2) Pulmonary ventilation.
(3) Artificial air tract care.
(4) Bronchial hygiene.
(5) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(6) Respiratory rehabilitation.
Respiratory care requires the administration of prescription drugs through the respiratory system, ventilation assistance and controlled ventilation, postural drainage, pulmonary physical therapy and breathing exercises, pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, maintenance of the natural respiratory tract, introduction and maintenance of artificial respiratory tracts without cutting tissue, specific examination techniques to assist in diagnosis, monitoring and investigation, including measuring volumes of ventilation, pressure and flow, extraction of venous or arterial blood, collection of respiratory tract specimens, analysis of specimens of gas in arterial as well as venous blood, examinations of pulmonary function and any other physiological monitoring related to respiratory physiology.
The above-mentioned provisions do not include the administration of anesthetic agents for the purpose of producing general anesthesia, but they do include the use of local anesthesia.
The administration of respiratory care is not limited solely to the hospital. It includes administering this technique wherever it can be done according to medical prescription as well as during the transportation of patients and under any emergency where respiratory care is needed.
(b) Respiratory care technician. — Means the person who practices the respiratory care technique as defined in subsection (a) of this section. Every respiratory care technician shall work under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist, of a specialist in pneumology or any other physician duly qualified to practice respiratory care. Provided, That those physicians with experience in the respiratory care techniques, at a hospital or in the private practice of their profession, may also supervise the work of the respiratory care technician.
The licensed respiratory care technician shall accept written or verbal medical orders for the respiratory care and treatment of patients.
(c) Board. — Means the Examining Board of Respiratory Care Technicians.
(d) Arterial puncture. — Is a hospital or specialized center activity. Arterial puncture is carried out by the respiratory care technician under medical orders and supervision, and the analysis of arterial gases is carried out by the technician or a medical technologist using equipment whose quality is supervised by a clinical pathologist, or a pneumologist, or an anesthesiologist from a hospital institution or specialized center.
History —June 4, 1987, No. 24, p. 69, § 2.