Cookeville Regional Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.

About 700 hospitals or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award. This is the sixth year in a row the respiratory care department at Cookeville Regional Medical Center has earned this award.

To qualify for the recognition, Cookeville Regional Medical Center provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services and hold either the CRT or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
• A pulmonary physician is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.

The American Association for Respiratory Care’s (AARC) QRCR program grew out of growing concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients.

Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care.

A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the association’s website for consumers, YourLungHealth.org.

Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, and other lung or lung-related conditions.

They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

The AARC membership organization represents more than 48,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.