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Our RT-intubation service is set up very much like Frank's program in terms of the required training and continuing competency/profociency assessments. Also, I agree with Frank's statement - RT's performing intubations are well within the scope of our practice. I think you may not see it as often due to the desire of physician residents to perform learn and perform them. However, in our facility, despite having a surgical and internal medcine residency, the RTs have the primary responsibility to perform the procedure due to the fact that we have seen a marked decrease in the # of calls to an anesthesiologist after having the RTs trained to perform intubations. Not having to pull an anesthesiologist from the OR is considered a huge positive and increases patient safety for both the patient in the OR and the patient needing an emergent intubation outside of the OR. There are some published studies on RT's and their effectivess in performing intubations.
1- McLaughlin AJ Jr, Scott W. Training and evaluation of respiratory therapists in emergency intubation. Respir Care 1982;26(4): 333-335.
2- Thalman JJ, Rinald-Gallo S, MacIntrye NR. Analysis of an endotracheal intuabtion service provided by respiratory tehrapists. Respir Care 1993;38 (5):469-473.
3- Zyla EL, Carlosn J. Respiratory Therapists as secondary providers of endotracheal intubation; one hospitals' experience. Respir Care 1994;39 (1); 30-33.
Other than the above, I don't have any other studies to show prevalence. Hope this helps.

My organization has RTs intubate. We aren't a teaching hospital and our in-house physicians can be low at times throughout the day. Since airway management is a hallmark of respiratory education and responsibilities, our chief medical officer asked us to take on the role. You can show your risk department that not only is it taught in school, but airway management is tested in our certification and registry exams.
In order to have a good program, you need to train your staff appropriately and show competency prior to sending them out. We do a didactic review of airway management and then the staff must show proficiency in the procedure on a mannequin. After that, they go to the OR and intubate under the direction of anesthesia who will then sign them off. We have a yearly requirement that an RT must do a minimum of four intubations per year or they will need to go back into OR.
Frank