AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS.

This Act updates the Respiratory Care Advisory Council to the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline’s enabling act to allow qualified licensed respiratory therapists to perform all duties associated with extracorporeal life support. Under the current law, respiratory therapists are authorized to assist with such support but may not administer medication during the process. As a result, a therapist is required to wait for another licensed professional to do so, resulting in delays to patient care.

This bill eliminates this delay in patient care and allows qualified respiratory therapists to work within the full scope of their training. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.