Advanced Practice Standards

Effective June 1, 2022
STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION OF ADVANCED PRACTICE PROGRAMS IN RESPIRATORY CARE

Background: The Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist (APRT) is a credentialed, licensed respiratory care practitioner trained to provide a scope of practice that exceeds that of the registered respiratory therapist. After obtaining the NBRC RRT credential, the aspiring APRT must successfully complete a CoARC-accredited graduate level education and training program that enables the APRT to provide advanced, evidence-based, diagnostic and therapeutic clinical practice and disease management.

As part of a physician-led team, APRTs are trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, critical care and preventive care services in multiple settings across the health care spectrum including acute (emergency department [ED] or urgent care) and critical care, sub-acute, in-patient and preventative care, as well as chronic care, ambulatory, and out-patient care. They take medical histories and record progress notes; examine, treat, and counsel patients; order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging studies, and diagnostics; and provide acute, critical, and chronic care to patients. The value and importance of maintaining the physician-therapist relationship that has benefitted patients with cardiopulmonary disease for many decades is preserved by having APRTs practice under the leadership of a physician.

Additional questions about the APRT Standards should be sent to the Chief Operating Officer, Shane Keene, at shane@coarc.com.

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