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STANDARD 10.

Patient / Client Assessment & Therapeutic Procedures

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must assess patients/clients, to analyze the findings, establish priorities and goals, and implement and monitor responses to therapeutic procedures to deliver safe, competent, ethical patient/client-centred care.

Performance Requirements

RTs:
9
Treat all patients/clients with sensitivity and compassion, considering their unique needs and goals when providing care.
9

Respect the autonomy of clients to make decisions regarding their own care, including their right to refuse or withdraw from treatment at any time.

9

Use knowledge, skill, critical thinking, and professional judgment to:

  • apply assessment procedures to evaluate patients’/clients’ status;
  • identify patient/client priorities, establish goals, develop, and implement a care plan of appropriate therapeutic procedures;
  • safely implement therapeutic procedures; and
  • monitor patients’/clients’ outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic procedures and adjusts interventions accordingly.
9
Implement discharge plans to coordinate required care and promote patient/client safety.
9
Notify, discuss, and document discussions with the appropriate healthcare team member if the RT feels the ordered assessment or therapeutic procedure is inappropriate for that patient/client.
9
Refuse and take the necessary actions if they determine a procedure is not in the patient’s/client’s best interest.
9
Institute immediate supportive measures and notify relevant healthcare team members in the event of deterioration of the patient’s/client’s condition.
9
Provide care, including products and services, to patients/clients without discrimination on any basis, and respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
9

Must refrain from recommending, dispensing, or selling medical gases or equipment for an improper purpose.

9

Must refrain from administering medication for an improper purpose.

Patient / Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that they will be treated with sensitivity and respect, and RTs competently apply assessment and therapeutic procedures to deliver safe, ethical patient/client-centred care.

RELATED RESOURCES
GLOSSARY

Appropriate refers to in accordance with ethical, legal, technical and/or clinical requirements of professional practice.

Competent refers to “having the requisite knowledge, skills and judgment/abilities to perform safely, effectively and ethically and applying that knowledge, skills and judgement/abilities to ensure safe, effective and ethical outcomes for the patient/client.”[1]

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated).”[2]

Patients/clients refer to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[3]

Professional or professional conduct is a term often used to describe the behaviours that are expected of individuals who hold a certain role in society. A “professional” is typically someone who has obtained skills that are recognized as requiring specific, intensive training and who applies those skills in a positon impacting others (e.g., engineer, lawyer, RT, PT, MD, etc.). Professionals are often held to moral, ethical, and legal standards because of this potential impact.[4]

FOOTNOTES

  1. College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
  2. College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
  3. Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
  4. Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2017). Conduct Counts! Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Conduct/Conduct_Counts_02-2017.pdf