225 ILCS 106/10

(225 ILCS 106/10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act.

"Board" means the Respiratory Care Board appointed by the Secretary.

"Basic respiratory care activities" means and includes all of the following activities:

(1) Cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing equipment used in the practice of respiratory care as delegated by a licensed health care professional or other authorized licensed personnel.

(2) Assembling equipment used in the practice of respiratory care as delegated by a licensed health care professional or other authorized licensed personnel.

(3) Collecting and reviewing patient data through non-invasive means, provided that the collection and review does not include the individual's interpretation of the clinical significance of the data. Collecting and reviewing patient data includes the performance of pulse oximetry and non-invasive monitoring procedures in order to obtain vital signs and notification to licensed health care professionals and other authorized licensed personnel in a timely manner.

(4) Maintaining a nasal cannula or face mask for oxygen therapy in the proper position on the patient's face.

(5) Assembling a nasal cannula or face mask for oxygen therapy at patient bedside in preparation for use.

(6) Maintaining a patient's natural airway by physically manipulating the jaw and neck, suctioning the oral cavity, or suctioning the mouth or nose with a bulb syringe.

(7) Performing assisted ventilation during emergency resuscitation using a manual resuscitator.

(8) Using a manual resuscitator at the direction of a licensed health care professional or other authorized licensed personnel who is present and performing routine airway suctioning. These activities do not include care of a patient's artificial airway or the adjustment of mechanical ventilator settings while a patient is connected to the ventilator.

"Basic respiratory care activities" does not mean activities that involve any of the following:

(1) Specialized knowledge that results from a course of education or training in respiratory care.

(2) An unreasonable risk of a negative outcome for the patient.

(3) The assessment or making of a decision concerning patient care.

(4) The administration of aerosol medication or medical gas.

(5) The insertion and maintenance of an artificial airway.

(6) Mechanical ventilatory support.

(7) Patient assessment.

(8) Patient education.

(9) The transferring of oxygen devices, for purposes of patient transport, with a liter flow greater than 6 liters per minute, and the transferring of oxygen devices at any liter flow being delivered to patients less than 12 years of age.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Licensed" means that which is required to hold oneself out as a respiratory care practitioner as defined in this Act.

"Licensed health care professional" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant.

"Order" means a written, oral, or telecommunicated authorization for respiratory care services for a patient by (i) a licensed health care professional who maintains medical supervision of the patient and makes a diagnosis or verifies that the patient's condition is such that it may be treated by a respiratory care practitioner or (ii) a certified registered nurse anesthetist in a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center.

"Other authorized licensed personnel" means a licensed respiratory care practitioner, a licensed registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse whose scope of practice authorizes the professional to supervise an individual who is not licensed, certified, or registered as a health professional.

"Proximate supervision" means a situation in which an individual is responsible for directing the actions of another individual in the facility and is physically close enough to be readily available, if needed, by the supervised individual.

"Respiratory care" and "cardiorespiratory care" mean preventative services, evaluation and assessment services, therapeutic services, cardiopulmonary disease management, and rehabilitative services under the order of a licensed health care professional for an individual with a disorder, disease, or abnormality of the cardiopulmonary system. These terms include, but are not limited to, measuring, observing, assessing, and monitoring signs and symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response of individuals to respiratory care services, including the determination of whether those signs, symptoms, reactions, behaviors, or general physical responses exhibit abnormal characteristics; the administration of pharmacological and therapeutic agents and procedures related to respiratory care services; the administration of vaccinations for the prevention of respiratory illness upon completion of training set forth by rule, limited to patients 18 years of age and older pursuant to a valid prescription or standing order by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches who, in the course of professional practice, administers vaccines to patients; the collection of blood specimens and other bodily fluids and tissues for, and the performance of, cardiopulmonary diagnostic testing procedures, including, but not limited to, blood gas analysis; development, implementation, and modification of respiratory care treatment plans and provision of education and skill training to patients and caregivers based on assessed abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system, respiratory care guidelines, referrals, and orders of a licensed health care professional; application, operation, and management of mechanical ventilatory support and other means of life support, including, but not limited to, hemodynamic cardiovascular support; and the initiation of emergency procedures under the rules promulgated by the Department. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section, including training and education requirements regarding vaccinations, which includes, but is not limited to, how to address contraindications and adverse reactions, appropriate vaccine storage, proper administration, the provision of written notice to the patient's physician, and record retention requirements. A respiratory care practitioner shall refer to a licensed health care professional any patient whose condition, at the time of evaluation or treatment, is determined to be beyond the scope of practice of the respiratory care practitioner.

"Respiratory care education program" means a course of academic study leading to eligibility for registry or certification in respiratory care. The training is to be approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board and shall include an evaluation of competence through a standardized testing mechanism that is determined by the Board to be both valid and reliable.

"Respiratory care practitioner" means a person who is licensed by the Department of Professional Regulation and meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The person is engaged in the practice of cardiorespiratory care and has the knowledge and skill necessary to administer respiratory care.

(2) The person is capable of serving as a resource to the licensed health care professional in relation to the technical aspects of cardiorespiratory care and the safe and effective methods for administering cardiorespiratory care modalities.

(3) The person is able to function in situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring great individual judgment.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(Source: P.A. 104-152, eff. 1-1-26.)