§34-27B-11. Additional activities permitted under chapter.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services, or activities of any of the following:

(1) Any person who is licensed in Alabama or certified by an organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and acceptable to the state from engaging in the profession or occupation for which the person is licensed or certified.

(2) Any person employed by the United States government who provides respiratory therapy solely under the direction or control of the United States government agency or organization.

(3) Any person receiving clinical training while pursuing a course of study leading to registry or certification in a respiratory therapy educational program accredited by the Council on Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care or their successor organizations. This person will be under direct supervision and be designated by a title clearly indicating his or her status as a student or trainee.

(4) Any emergency medical technician licensed by the Alabama State Board of Health who is providing care to a patient at the scene of an emergency, or during transport of the patient in a licensed ground ambulance, provided that such care may not exceed the scope of care permissible under the rules of the Alabama State Board of Health.

(5) The delivery of respiratory therapy of sick or disabled persons by family members or domestic servants or the care of non-institutionalized persons by a surrogate family member as long as the persons do not represent themselves as, or hold themselves out to be, respiratory therapists.

(6) Any individual who has demonstrated competency in one or more areas covered by this chapter as long as the individual performs only those functions that he or she is qualified by examination to perform. The standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, or its equivalent, shall serve as a standard with which to evaluate those examinations and examining organizations.

(7) Any person performing respiratory services or care not licensed as a respiratory therapist in accordance with this chapter who is employed in a diagnostic laboratory, physician's office, clinic, or outpatient treatment facility and whose function is to administer treatment or perform diagnostic procedures confined to that laboratory, office, clinic, or outpatient facility under the direction of a licensed physician.

(8) Any respiratory therapy student who performs limited respiratory therapy procedures as an employee of any health care provider organization while enrolled in a respiratory therapy educational program accredited by the Council on Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care or their successor organizations. The employee shall be designated by title as a student or trainee and shall work under direct supervision.

(9) Any individual employed by a durable medical equipment or home medical equipment company who delivers, sets up, or maintains respiratory equipment, but not including assessment or evaluation of the patient.

(10) Any individual employed as a polysommagraphic technologist working in a sleep center or diagnostic sleep clinic.

(11) Any licensed respiratory therapist performing advances in the art and techniques of respiratory therapy learned through special training acceptable to the board.

(Act 2004-518, p. 1038, §11.)