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February 24, 2010
by Stacy Caldarera
Recent News
Summit Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (CRCR) 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. “We are honored to be recognized by this national organization as our department takes pride in the quality care we provide to the residents of Crawford County,” said Kim Miller, Respiratory Therapy Director. The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services. To qualify for the recognition, Summit Medical Center provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions: All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold 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 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 standard and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the associations’ 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 are care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charted with handling medical emergencies. The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.
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