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- What is Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Care or Therapy, also called Cardiopulmonary Care, is the diagnosis of diseases of the lungs and heart, and the development of treatment plans for individuals who are limited by these diseases to prevent disability, maintain health, and maximize independence. Respiratory Care is provided from premature infants, to athletes, to the elderly. Services under respiratory care can be provided at home, in hospital, in a nursing home, or any appropriate setting where needed. Respiratory services is provided to persons who suffer from diseases including chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema as well as heart attack and victims of trauma. Among other services provided are testing of lung function, sleep disorders and heart irregularities; treatment include oxygen therapy and treatment of lung disorders using specific drugs and delivery systems.
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- What is a Respiratory Care Practitioner?
A Respiratory Care Practitioner is a highly qualified health care professional who is licensed to provide respiratory care in New Hampshire. All persons who provide respiratory care services in New Hampshire must be licensed by the Governing Board of Respiratory Care Practitioners and works in consultation with and under the order of a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
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- What are the Licensure Qualifications
- Successful completion of approved academic and fieldwork requirements.
- Successful passing a national credentialing examination.
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- What is the Respiratory Care Practitioner’s Governing Board?
It is a state agency charged to regulate the practice of occupational therapy.
The Board is responsible for protecting the health, safety and welfare of individuals who receive respiratory care services in New Hampshire.
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- What Does the Respiratory Care Practitioners Governing Board Do?
- Members meet monthly to conduct Board business.
- Develop policy and set standards of practice.
- Review applications and issues licenses to qualified applicants.
- Investigate complaints and take appropriate disciplinary action when violations are found to have occurred.
- Monitors and enforces continuing education requirement.
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- How Is the Board Organized?
The five member Board is made up of three licensed respiratory care practitioners, one public member and one medical doctor knowledgeable in the field, who are appointed by the Governor to serve specific terms.
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- How Does the Board Monitor Competency of Licensees?
The Board requires that every licensee participate in educational activities relating to development for the purpose of updating and developing skills in order to provide appropriate respiratory care services and review complaints.
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- Why You May Want to Contact the Board?
- To determine whether the practitioner holds current license.
- You feel the therapist has behaved in an unprofessional manner.
- You are dissatisfied with their services provided and have not received satisfaction after notifying the therapist and/or the employer.
- You want to know if a specific therapist has had any disciplinary actions taken against him/her.
- You have any questions regarding respiratory care services.
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- How are Complaints Filed?
A person, who wishes to file a complaint, should contact the board to inquire as to what information the board will need to act upon. When the compliant is received, the board will review it. If the board determines the complaint is within their jurisdiction, the board will investigate further.
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- When Does the Board Take Disciplinary Action?
When a practitioner has been found guilty of:
- practicing respiratory care in a manner detrimental to the public health and welfare;
- obtaining or attempting to obtain a license by fraud or deception;
- by engaging in unprofessional conduct as defined by the board;
- gross negligence or incompetence.
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