The Path to RRT for Licensing in Ohio

November 15, 2013

Sources of information

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All information sent to the Ohio Respiratory Care Board (ORCB) is public information with minor exceptions. Information obtained in the process of legal or

disciplinary action may be protected. Patient health care information is protected. All information on license applications is public. The results of all disciplinary actions are public.

The majority of the information presented today comes from minutes of ORCB meetings. Some is from letters or e-mails sent to the ORCB.

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February 2010: The Board decided to evaluate changing the qualification for licensure to passing the RRT exam.

August 2010 – Concept to require RRT for licensure presented to Education Directors. The majority of those present support the

concept. August 2010 – The Ohio Society for Respiratory

Care, endorsed the concept.

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October 2010 – Chris Logsdon, Executive Secretary, ORCB, provided members of the Rules committee with a copy of draft rule 4761-5-01 to change from the CRT to the RRT exam.

November 15, 2010 - AARC president Tim Myers sent a strongly worded e-mail to the Board opposing the proposed rule change. “I would like my comments to reflect that I

STRONGLY oppose the consideration and passage of these arbitrary and capricious standards based on no tangible evidence to support its validity.”

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More from Tim Myers’ letter: “..decision to move this forward… based on no

tangible evidence, data or workforce planning impact. This could potentially also create a potential shortage of workforce candidate that potential could force hospitals to look to other healthcare employees to fill portions of the respiratory therapist scope of practice with many potential loopholes that current exist in the Ohio licensure act that allows other skilled and non-skilled individuals access to portions of that scope. I would also believe there is potential for legal action of many fronts. “

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December 2010 - ORCB created a work group to evaluate the proposal's impact. Included RT managers, RT educators, hospital HR

staff, Ohio Hospital Association, OSRC and NBRC and AARC.

The group met 3 times. All meeting were well attended and there was good

participation by all attendees.

All participants supported the idea with 3 exceptions, The AARC and the NBRC strongly opposed to the

change. The Ohio Hospital Association was neutral.

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The Board invited key stakeholders to attend the December 7, 2011 ORCB meeting.

Karen Stewart, President of the American Association for Respiratory Care addressed the Board and Sam Giordano attended. Karen stated the AARC does not support our

proposed rule change. She had previously sent a strongly worded letter on behalf of the AARC, strongly opposing the proposed rule change (next slide).

Representatives of the NBRC were not able to attend.

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Karen Stewart letter” “..decision to move this forward ..based on no

tangible evidence, data, or workforce planning impact in the future for Ohio respiratory therapists. This could potentially also create a potential shortage of workforce candidates forcing hospitals to look to other healthcare employees or licensed practitioners to fill portions of the respiratory therapists’ scope of practice with potential loopholes that currently exist in the Ohio licensure act that allows other skilled and non-skilled individuals access to portions of that scope. There could also exist a potential for legal action of many fronts..

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OSRC President Sarah Varekojis, Ph.D., R.R.T., R.C.P also attended. She reported on the result of the work group survey. She also reported that the OSRC unanimously voted

to support the changes proposed by the Board to recognize the RRT examination for licensure.

The Board voted to move forward with the rule change.

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February 12, 2012 –Several members of the NBRC asked to comment on the recommendations of the Ohio Respiratory Care Board’s Workgroup on Examination Requirements for Ohio Licensure. Robert C. Shaw, Jr., Ph.D., R.R.T., F.A.A.R.C.,

Gary A. Smith, CRT, F.A.A.R.C., Executive Director of the NBRC, Kerry E. George, M.Ed., R.R.T., F.A.A.R.C. President of the NBRC and Gregg L. Ruppel, M.Ed.,R.R.T., R.P.F.T., F.A.A.R.C., Past President of  the NBRC.

Dr. Shaw announced that in the future the NBRC will introduce a consolidated CRT and RRT written multiple choice examination. 

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October 10, 2012 – The ORCB approved the resolution authorizing the Executive Director to file proposed new rule 4761-5-01. Motion carried: 6 – 0.

December 12, 2012 (12/12/12 and Marc’s birthday) – ORCB meeting.

January 7, 2013 - the Board filed rules with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) to require the RRT examination for initial licensure in Ohio, beginning in 2015.

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February 13, 2013 –JCARR public hearing. George Gaebler, president of the AARC testified in

opposition to the proposed rule, the third consecutive AARC president to do so. Tim Myers, past president of the AARC testified in opposition to the proposed rule, again. Tom Kallstrom, Executive Director of the AARC was

also in attendance. Gary Smith, Executive Director of the NBRC testified in

opposition to the proposed rule, again. All others in attendance testified in support of the

proposed rule.

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JCARR Committee met Feb 25. They gave tacit approval.

The rule became official April 24, 2013. Takes effect January 1, 2015.