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
Respect the autonomy of clients to make decisions regarding their own care, including their right to refuse or withdraw from treatment at any time.
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.
Refuse to perform a procedure/task when it is not in the patient/client’s best interest, document the refusal and propose necessary alternative actions.
Use a collaborative approach to patient care and safety.
Must refrain from recommending, dispensing, or selling medical gases or equipment for an improper purpose.
Must refrain from administering medication for an improper purpose.
Utilize diagnostic adjuncts, such as AI-assisted tools, only to support the delivery of care and not as a replacement for clinical judgment.
Maintain an awareness of potential biases in diagnostic tools and strive to ensure equitable and accurate assessments for all patient/client populations.
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
- College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (20). Respiratory Therapists Providing Education. Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: https://education.crto.on.ca.
- National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/download/ncf-part-i-entry-to-practice-2016.
- National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2024). National Competency Framework. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/national-competency-profileframework.
GLOSSARY
Appropriate refers to in accordance with ethical, legal, technical and/or clinical requirements of professional practice.
Competent refers to “the ability to consistently and effectively apply the requisite knowledge, skills, clinical judgment, and professional behaviour to provide safe, ethical, and effective patient care.”[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 their substitute decision-maker or guardian.[3]
Professional/Professionalism refers to the conduct, behaviours, and attitudes expected of individuals in the healthcare field that are essential for maintaining trust between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring high-quality care, and upholding the integrity of the profession.[4]
FOOTNOTES
- College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
- College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
- Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
- 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