Larry Simpson, Board Chair announced that William Mashburn, RCP was appointed to IISC (Replacing Ciji Williams), Tina Lovings, RCP appointed to Education Committee (Replacing William Mashburn), and.  He reminded everyone that Board Officer Elections are in January 2017.

Linwood C.  Faulconer, CPA of Koonce, Wooten & Haywood, and LLP provide an overview of the audit.  There was a net increase in revenue of nearly $100,000 from July 2015-June 2016

The Executive Director reported that the Governor has not, as of yet, appointed a replacement for the one empty public seat.  A request was made and an applicant accepted by commission.  During last quarter, website updates were made to improve the efficiency of the Board, which included certified online verifications to be emailed to licensee and requested state board.  During last quarter, Dr. Croft participated in the NBRC Re-credentialing Commission conference as the state licensing board representative on August 25, 2016 and the annual NBRC Licensure Liaison conference on September August 26-28, 2016 in Olathe, KS. In addition, he attended the annual NCSRC Symposium held in Wilmington, NC on September 15 and 16 as well as presented on the topic of conflicts in law.  As of October 1, 2016, there were seven hundred and sixteen (716) licensees registered for the CE Broker program.  Since July 1 2016, the Board's Investigators have opened 16 investigations and completed 10 investigations.  Four (4) individuals were scheduled for interviews with the Board's Investigation and Informal Settlement Committee on September 6, 2016.  There are currently eighteen (18) ongoing investigations.  As of June 30, 2016: there have been 8580 (+53) Respiratory Care Practitioner Licenses applied for since 2002.  Current Totals: 4678 (-82) Active and 68 (-16) Inactive.  There are 34 (-47) pending applicants, 3276 (+163) expired licenses, 292 (+32) Failed to complete, 58 (+1)  practitioners deceased, 65 (+1) withdrawn applications, 13(+1)  voluntarily surrendered licenses, 0 (NC) Suspended, 30 (NC) revoked licenses, and 16 (NC) denied applications.

There were no committee reports for Ethics or Rules.  The Education Committee Chair, Ms. Ross, provided a brief update on the Refresher Course.  She also discussed the CE Audit Issues and forwarded a Recommendation to update the Board Policy regarding discipline for CE issue as well as an automatic Consent Order for CE Noncompliance to be developed by the Education Committee.  

The Practice Committee Member, Dr. Olson reported for Committee Chair, Dr. Klima.  Two Interpretive letter requests were recommended and approved: 1) Brittany Komansky, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, Manager, Emergency Services WakeMed regarding RCP’s performing splinting in a non-traditional setting; and 2) Martin Corts RRT, RCP, Manager of Watauga Medical Center Cardiopulmonary Department in Boone, NC as ked the Board to clarify if the clinical procedure provided to the Board is within the scope of practice and if this procedure is considered dispensing.  

In Unfinished Business, the Board discussed changes to the RCPA and decided to withhold any action this year since the NC General Assembly is still considering elimination of many Boards and Commissions.

In New Business, the Board approved a Retired License Status for RCPs retiring.  The Board also discussed the need for a declaratory ruling for the advance practice endorsement for master’s level advance practice in respiratory care.  Larry Simpson, Board Chair, established an Adhoc Committee to consider the requirements.

The next Board meeting: January 12, 2017 at 10:00 ARE at the Board Office.  All standing committees meet December 9, 2016.  

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Mr. Simpson presented the minutes from the January 14, 2016 Board meeting. Ms. Ross made a motion to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Ms. Short reported that as of March 31, 2016, there was $213,189.32 in the savings account and $34,730.17 in the operating account making a total of $247,919.49.  The total assets are $272,175.47.  The Profit & Loss Budget vs Actual shows that total income is higher than budgeted due to students applying earlier for licensure at this time.  Payroll expenses and professional expenses are less than what was budgeted.

Dr. Croft reported on the events that had occurred since the last Board meeting.

• The Education Committee met on March 18, 2016. The Practice, Rules, and Ethics Committees did not meet.
• The Governor has not, as of yet, appointed a replacement for the empty public seat.
• Dr. Croft attended the 2016 High Country Conference in Blowing Rock on February 17-19.  He presented on the topics of the future of respiratory care and concurrent therapy.
• During January, February and March, Dr. Croft visited ten of the fourteen community college respiratory programs to discuss the licensing process, as well as, the need for educational advancement. 
• On February 28, the CE Broker contract was initiated and the building of the database began.  The scheduled date for the roll out is June 6, 2016.
• Dr. Croft attended the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight (APO) Committee for Occupational Licensing Boards Subcommittee meeting on March 17.  The draft bill entitled:  Amend APA/Sunset Occupational Licensing Bds was introduced.
• On March 18, he attended NCSRC BOD meeting via teleconference to provide the details of the Draft Bill during the meeting
• A Special Board Meeting was held on March 25, 2016 to discuss the Draft Bill.
• On March 31, he delivered the Board’s position letter to each Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight (APO) Committee member.
• On April 5, he attended and presented the Board’s position to the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight (APO) Committee during the scheduled meeting.
• On March 22, the Board had a required FBI audit conducted by Steven E. Robe of the CJIS Audit Unit (CAU).
• On April 12, Dr. Croft and Mr. Shenton attended a Second Annual Occupational Licensing Agencies Best Practices Seminar in Raleigh.
• The Board’s Investigators have completed eight investigations.  Seven individuals were scheduled for interviews with the Board’s Investigation and Informal Settlement Committee on March 8.  There are currently six ongoing investigations.
• As of March 31, 2016:  there have been 8409 Respiratory Care Practitioner Licenses applied for.  Current totals: 4638 Active and 76 Inactive.  There are 153 pending applicants, 3104 expired licenses, 256 failed to complete applications, 57 practitioners deceased, 63 withdrawn applications, 12 voluntarily surrendered licenses, 31 revoked licenses, and 16 denied applications.

Old Business/Updates

Dr. Croft reported on the Bill to Amend APA/Sunset Occupational Licensing Boards.  It has been tabled until the 2017 long session of the General Assembly.  They are in the information gathering phase again.  They will be provided with updated information on how the Board has interacted with the public and practitioners since July 2014 and summaries of each Board action. 

Dr. Croft reported on CE Broker.  It is a transfer service of CE’s. The basic program is free to the Board and to practitioners.  It reviews CE’s for appropriateness.  It would be voluntary and it would keep practitioners in compliance.  Practitioners can upgrade services for $29 a year if they choose.  In the future there could be a rule to require the use of the basic program.  It will be rolled out on June 6, 2016.  There was a discussion by the Board.

Discussion to Amend Occupational Licensing Board Statutes. Dr. Croft reported that a group of licensing boards worked with Representative Stephens on developing this amendment.  It basically gives boards a path to deal with unlicensed individuals.  Following a discussion by the Board, Ms. Ross made a motion to support the amendment.  The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Board Actions

Ms. Ross reported that the Education Committee met on March 18, 2016 and made the following recommendations:

• Do it for Drew Video Course Content. The committee has developed the objectives to cover the educational content of the course.  Two continuing education credits will be earned for completing it either online or in a group setting.  Hooks seconded the recommendation.  Following a discussion by the Board, the recommendation carried unanimously.
• Patient Education Endorsement Application. The patient educator committee developed the criteria for the advanced practice endorsement. The committee recommends adding it to the advanced practice registration option.  Klima seconded the recommendation.  Following a discussion by the Board, the recommendation carried unanimously.
• PHTLS and STABLE course approvals. The committee recommends accepting these two courses that meet the requirements of the air transport declaratory ruling for six CE credit hours each.   Klima seconded the recommendation and it carried unanimously.
• Update on BSRT/MSRT. The COARC and AARC position statement on respiratory therapist education states that as of January 1, 2018 COARC won’t accredit any new associate programs.  Coyle discussed the Master’s program at UNCC at the committee meeting.  It will start in the Fall of 2017.   The committee discussed the acknowledgement of degrees.  The committee recommended adding the advanced level degree level to the website license display.  Ms. Short seconded the recommendation and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Simpson announced that the next Board meeting will be on July 14, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Board Office.  The next IISC Committee meeting will be on June 8, 2016.  All other committees will meet at the regularly scheduled time on June 10, 2016.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 PM.