Highlights of the March 25, 2005 Board Meeting
Sunset Review Postponed
President Renner advised that the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions and Consumer Protection has postponed, for at least one year, the Board's sunset review which was scheduled to begin Fall, 2005.
2005 Strategic Planning Session Scheduled
In light of the postponement of Sunset Review, the Board has scheduled a Strategic Planning Session to be held in conjunction with its previously scheduled August meeting.
Strategic Planning will be conducted on Thursday, August 11th in Sacramento. Some items to be discussed for possible inclusion in the Board's Strategic Plan include:
- Proposed competency requirement, mandating passage of RRT examination within 3 years.
- Proposed regulatory change: prohibit training of unlicensed personnel.
- Respiratory care practice by other licensed professionals.
- Licensed vocational nurse bridge to licensed respiratory care practitioner.
- Student criminal background checks.
August Board Meeting Location Change
The location of the Board's August 12th meeting was changed from Burbank to Sacramento.
Outreach Efforts/Conference Attendance
Board staff will be participating in a panel at the MedTrade Spring Conference (April 6th) to share the Board's recommendations aimed at preventing the unsafe and unqualified practice of respiratory care as it relates to home care and home medical device retail facilities (or durable medical equipment companies).
On April 30th, Board staff will also be exhibiting at the Better Business Bureau's Consumer Expo in San Diego.
Law and Professional Ethics Course Regulations
The Board approved the final regulatory language which will allow the implementation of the Law and Professional Ethics Course requirement. The course will be required prior to initial licensure, during every other renewal cycle, and prior to reinstatement of a revoked license. The course is intended to enlighten practitioners through thought provoking and sensitive situations as to the appropriate action/inaction that should be taken in patient-care situations and other matters affecting their licensure.
Home Care Review and Recommendations
The Board approved the Professional Licensing Committee's Home Care recommendations which will soon be finalized for submission to the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions and Consumer Protection at which time they will also be made available on the Board's website.
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians: Adjustments to Ventilator Settings Policy
The Board discussed its grave concerns with licensed vocational nurses being trained and allowed to manage ventilator-dependent patients. The Board expressed its commitment to pursue the issue and indicated that its first course of action would be to work with the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians in an attempt to resolve the matter.
If you have any comments, suggestions or questions regarding Board business we'd like to hear from you. Please send an e-mail to: rcbinfo@dca.ca.gov.
