Colleen Schabacker, Director of Respiratory Care at Cookeville Regional, demonstrates the use of a ventilator on pigs’ lungs for high school students from Warren County as a part of a future health care professionals’ field trip.
Story Published:
Apr 29, 2010 at 9:39 AM CST
Story Updated:
Apr 30, 2010 at 7:10 AM CST
About 700 hospitals or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award. This is the seventh consecutive year the Respiratory Care Department has earned this prestigious award.
To qualify for the recognition, Cookeville Regional provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:
• All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are all legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services and hold the CRT or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours a day
• 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 doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
The AARC’s 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 care 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 is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide. For list click here.
