It’s Here! Respiratory Care Week 2004 Is BIG!

October 25, 2004
National Respiratory Care Week is finally here and RTs all across the country are busy celebrating their week, in big ways. And, we do mean BIG: From television appearances to drive time radio to lectures and, well, catered dinners. Take a look at just a few examples of how people are making the most of this great opportunity to promote the profession. 

Presenting awards in Takoma Park, MD
AARC President Janet Boehm, MS, RRT, was on hand at Washington Adventist Hospital for the presentation of its annual Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award. She was in town to speak at the Maryland-D.C. Society meeting and was happy to come by the hospital the day before to bestow this special honor on Deanna Codling, CRTT, on behalf of what she calls “all the dedicated, hard-working therapists” everywhere.

That’s Janet on the right next to Deanna and Alfred Munzer, MD, medical director of the pulmonary medicine department, and Zelick Stewartson, director of pulmonary services. Janet's holding the state proclamation officially declaring the week RC Week by Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

On the Internet in Everywhere, USA 
Thanks to public relations savvy AARC members, people everywhere are getting a great look at the profession through a new article celebrating National Respiratory Care Week on Monster.com. The story features AARC members Gretchen Lawrence, Tom Kallstrom, Gayleen Mooney, and Karen Schell, who talk about the great diversity in work settings available in respiratory care and the role RTs play in helping people with conditions ranging from asthma to COPD to sleep apnea.

A big week planned in Cincinnati, OH
Respiratory therapists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) kicked off the week by joining RTs from throughout their area at a special breakfast where the winner of this year’s Greater Cincinnati Area Respiratory Care Practitioner of the Year was announced. From there, the staff headed back to CCHMC for a week-long series of events focusing on “fun, food, education, and excitement,” says the department’s clinical education coordinator, Jerry Edens, MEd, RRT. The group even came up with its own theme: “Clearing the Air!” 

The educational offerings include several talks by local physicians, RTs, and others on topics of interest to the profession, such as “Early Detection of Lung Disease,” “COPD Treatment Options,” and “The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke to Children and the Elderly.” The department is also hosting its annual bake sale and second annual Monster Ball, which will feature a silent auction benefiting a local summer camp for kids with special respiratory needs.   

On the air in Augusta, GA 
George W. Lantz, BS, RRT-NPS, CPFT, AE-C, FAARC, clinical manager of respiratory therapy, EKG, and the special diagnostics department at Doctors Hospital, will be explaining what respiratory therapists do and how they fit into the overall health care system during the “Mornings with Jay and Dominique” show on the local Fox affiliate. Lantz will also use the occasion to showcase his department at Doctors, where respiratory therapy protocols are helping to optimize care for patients and staff use their own customer care values to improve patient satisfaction. Lantz plans to play up the fact the hospital has earned the AARC’s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) designation as well. 

Media and more in Macon, GA
RC Week plans at the Medical Center of Central Georgia run the gamut. Staff will take the respiratory therapy message out to the community through two appearances on local shows – the “Herbert Dennard Show” and “WMAZ House Calls” – along with an article in the October issue of “Partners in Health,” the hospital’s newsletter. RTs are also planning a lung health screening at the local shopping mall complete with guest speaker Dr. Jonathon Dean, and will celebrate with three sponsored breakfasts, five sponsored lunches, and a catered dinner courtesy of the department. Prizes and free gifts will be handed out, and the local uniform shop is offering a special sale on scrubs just for the department. 

Hallway walking in Houston, TX 
Respiratory therapists at Ben Taub General Hospital are celebrating by hosting a Lung Health Hallway Walk for hospital employees. The department will sponsor three 15 minute walks three times throughout the day on Tuesday, with prizes for first, second, and third place finishers. Staff are also setting up an information table and will be holding regular drawings for giveaways. Special information is being provided to pulmonary diagnostics patients throughout the week as well. 

Community PFT screening in Thomasville, GA 
Archbold Medical Center RTs are hosting pulmonary function screenings for residents of Thomas County. The free screenings will take place in the hospital’s Community Room. RT students from Southwest Georgia Technical College are getting into the act, too, with PFT and pulse oximetry screenings, plus a program recruitment booth on campus.

Showing appreciation in Tifton, GA
Therapists from the Tifton area will celebrate the week with several special events, including an appearance by Tift Regional Medical Center Director of Respiratory Services Jerry L. Ethridge, RRT, on a local radio program and an Area RT Appreciation Reception featuring the presentation of plaques to 17 professionals being honored for their excellence on the job. The Reception is even going to be covered by a local television station. Rounding out the activities will be spirometry screenings at the local shopping mall. 

Health screenings in Lubbock, TX 
Ron Edwards, BS, RRT, director of respiratory therapy at UMC Health Systems, and his staff are teaming up with respiratory therapy students from South Plains College to host two health screenings. The first will take place at the Lubbock Country Courthouse and the second will occur at a local elementary school during a child asthma education session.  

Getting covered in Omaha, NE 
Frank Freihaut, RRT, AE-C, lead respiratory care practitioner at the Nebraska Medical Center, is scheduled to appear on the local NBC affiliate’s midday news show, where he'll tell viewers all about respiratory therapy and the value RTs add to the health care system. The Nebraska Society for Respiratory Care is also hosting several lung health screenings, which will take place at Walgreens Pharmacies throughout the state.

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