AARC Headlines

HRSA Reports Scholarship Opportunities for RTs

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:25:01 -0500

A major goal of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is to disseminate educational scholarship and loan information to health professionals. In the past, respiratory therapists have not been well represented in this process, but that’s changing for the better.

AHRQ Director to Address Congress in Keynote Speech

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:23:27 -0500

Attendees at the AARC Congress in Las Vegas, NV, this Dec. 6–9, will hear from a leader in the research community, as Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the Department of Health and Human Services, takes the podium for the keynote address.

VAP Workshops Scheduled for Maryland, Pennsylvania

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:17:52 -0500

Respiratory therapists working in the ICU know ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) causes excess morbidity and mortality and adds thousands of dollars to the care of the patient.

WHO Says Pandemic is Over—Now What?

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:24:40 -0500

While good news, it does not mean that the H1N1 flu virus has disappeared, only that its behavior is becoming more like seasonal influenza.

Good Press: AARC Members in the News

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:32:04 -0500

Check out our latest list of newsmakers.

Congress Program Now Available

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:31:13 -0500

The Advance Program for the 56th AARC International Respiratory Congress is now available including online registration and housing information.

Simulation Roundtable Provides Community for RTs

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:39:43 -0500

The AARC has just formed a new Roundtable on Simulations. Individuals joining community will be discussing ideas related to the use of patient simulations in respiratory care education.

Second Group of Summer Bulletins Online Now

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:38:47 -0500

Members of the Long Term Care, Management, Neonatal-Pediatrics, Sleep, and Surface & Air Transport Sections can read the Summer issues of their Bulletins online now.

Virtual Lobby Day A Great Success

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:37:41 -0500

Yesterday was the AARC’s Virtual Lobby Day. On this one day RTs, pulmonary patients and our supporters from across the country focused our efforts on flooding Capitol Hill with emails and phone calls looking for Congressional support for HR 1077 and S 343, our Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative.

AARC Announces New Associate Executive Director

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:54:02 -0500

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) today announced the appointment of Douglas Laher, MBA, RRT, to the position of Associate Executive Director effective September 1, 2010.

AARC Announces Interim Chairs for Its Management and Diagnostics Specialty Sections

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:12:56 -0500

AARC President Timothy Myers, BSRT, RRT-NPS, has appointed Cheryl Hoerr, MBA, RRT, CPFT, FAARC, and Michael Tracy, BA, RRT-NPS, RPFT, to serve as interim section chairs for the Management and Diagnostics Specialty Sections, respectively, until newly elected section chairs are seated in early December.

CMS Finalizes Inpatient Hospital Rules

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:30:27 -0500

Last year AARC reported twice that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) interpretation of its rules regarding orders for respiratory care services required a physician to co-sign such orders if written by a nurse practitioner (NPs) or physician assistant (PAs).

FDA Hears from AARC, Others, on Tobacco Marketing

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:31 -0500

The marketing and promotion of tobacco products to youth and racial and ethnic minorities is a key concern of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. When the center requested input to help inform its decision-making process, the AARC joined 17 other leading organizations in signing on to a letter full of great information and advice.

Free Webcast Offered by the COPD Learn More Breathe Better® Campaign

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:58:50 -0500

On August 9th, 2010, from 2–3 pm EDT, there will be a free webcast presented by the “COPD Learn More Breathe Better” campaign.

Good Press: AARC Members in the News

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:12:05 -0500

We have another great list of newsmakers to share.

AARC Virtual Lobby Day Announced

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:59:02 -0500

Respiratory therapists, pulmonary patients and RT supporters from around the country are invited to take part in the AARC’s Virtual Lobby Day on Wednesday, August 4.

AARC Members Urged to Participate in DRIVE4COPD Launch

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:38:44 -0500

A webcast announcing the AARC’s involvement in the DRIVE4COPD project will be held Monday, July 26 at 2:00 pm Eastern (1 Central, 12 Mountain, 11 Pacific). The webcast is free and there is no need to register.

First Five Summer Bulletins Online Now

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:06:35 -0500

The Adult Acute Care, Continuing Care/Rehabilitation, Diagnostics, Education, and Home Care Sections have just published the Summer issues of their Bulletins.

Inaccurate Information Continues

mortenson@aarc.org — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:20:35 -0500

An inaccurate product promotion issued by Ford Health International has continued despite assurances by the company that they would correct the information on their website. On June 18, 2010 AARC had received assurances that the “erroneous marketing” would be remedied in June but this had not yet occurred.

The company, located in Humble TX, erroneously has implied that AARC supports their device and that their device is one that The Joint Commission mandates. Neither claim is true.

CMS Proposes Increased Payment for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Hospital Outpatient Settings

mortenson@aarc.org — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:04:52 -0500

CMS’ proposed rules on the 2011 update to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) are on display at the Federal Register and are expected to be published August 3, 2010. A quick glance at the rules indicate several provisions that may be, or are of interest to our members. A thorough analysis and review will be ongoing. Comments are due to CMS by August 31, 2010.