RTs in Missouri Rise Early for COPD Awareness Month

November 11, 2002
Undeterred by the lack of a gubernatorial proclamation for COPD Awareness Month, the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC) is getting up early and waiting in cool temperatures to appear on the "Eye on St. Louis" segment of the KSDK-TV Channel 5 NBC Today Show.

"We haven't let the lack of a statewide proclamation stop us," says Ronda Bradley, MS, RRT, MSRC president. "We have organized groups from four hospitals to talk with our local weather broadcaster -- much like folks do with Al Roker in New York City."

Last week the MSRC asked Barnes Jewish Hospital of St. Louis to be the hosting hospital. RTs who got on the show talked about the early detection of COPD. This week, RTs from St. Louis University Hospital -- Tenent were featured. This group highlighted information about respiratory therapists.

"For this segment we handed out information on how to find a local respiratory care program," Bradley says. "We have already had local response to these announcements."

The next two weeks will bring two more hospital RT staff members to the early morning program. "We are very happy with the response we are receiving and hope to accelerate this in the months to come."

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