The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading national
and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC
encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science
and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients
and their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist.
Background
Founded in 1947, the AARC is a not-for-profit professional association
with more than 42,000 members worldwide. Our primary membership consists
of respiratory therapists, allied health practitioners who are trained
at the 2- and 4-year college level to assist physicians in the care of
patients with lung disorders and other conditions. Respiratory therapists
can be found in all areas of health care, including hospitals, home care,
nursing homes, and physicians’ offices—in short, anywhere
patients are being treated for lung diseases.
A network of 50 state societies involves members in local and state activities, and ten Specialty Sections meet the needs of practitioners involved in specific care areas or settings.
Sponsoring Organizations
The AARC is sponsored by the American
Thoracic Society, the American
College of Chest Physicians, and the American
Society of Anesthesiologists.
Governance
A Board of Directors, in conjunction with a House of Delegates, governs
the Association. A 16-member Board of Medical Advisors representing
the Association’s three sponsoring organizations, along with other
major physician groups, in an advisory capacity.
AARC Allies
The AARC co-sponsors and appoints representatives to the National
Board for Respiratory Care, the body that administers nationally
recognized credentialing examinations for respiratory therapists and other
allied health practitioners. The Association also supports the Committee
on Respiratory Care Education, the accrediting body for schools of respiratory
care, and the American Respiratory Care Foundation, a non-profit
organization supporting research, education, and charitable purposes.
International Respiratory Congress
The four-day AARC International Respiratory Congress is the premier educational
event in the respiratory care profession. Every year, the meeting brings
together more than 6,000 respiratory therapists and other health professionals
from around the world, who gather to hear the latest developments in respiratory
care. In 2007, the 53st International Respiratory Congress will be held
in Orlando, Dec. 1-4.
National Respiratory Care Week & Lung Health Day
To inform the public about the respiratory care profession and promote
lung health, the AARC sponsors National Respiratory Care Week the last
week in October. Lung Health Day occurs on Wednesday of that week. Respiratory
therapy departments all across the country get involved in both of these
activities, hosting educational screenings, programs, and fund raisers
for asthma camps for kids, patients in need of assistance, and other worthy
causes.
Education
In addition to the International Respiratory Congress, the Association
develops and conducts a plethora of meetings, educational courses, and
symposia throughout the year to provide members with opportunities to
earn Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE™) credits. The
newest additions to the AARC’s education line-up are online.
CRCE Online is a high-tech Internet education system available at
www.AARC.org. The
Association also presents regular webcasts featuring leading speakers
and topics in respiratory care, which are archived for viewing any time
at Webcast Central.
Advocacy
The AARC interacts with local, state, and federal government on public
policies that affect our patients and our members. From Tobacco Settlement
monies, to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, to health-care
reform proposals, the AARC keeps Congress, state, and local policymakers
up-to-date on the issues that are important to patient care
and respiratory practice.
The AARC also sends representatives to more than 20 outside groups and organizations that work on common issues, including the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association Panel of Consultants, the National Lung Health Education Program, and the federal government’s National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.
Publications
The Association publishes a peer-reviewed journal, RESPIRATORY
CARE, and a news and feature magazine, AARC
T¦mes. The foremost scientific journal in the respiratory care profession,
RESPIRATORY CARE is listed
in Index Medicus and features original research and case reports on topics
such as chest radiographs, pulmonary function tests, and blood gas analyses.
AARC T¦mes is the profession’s leading general interest
publication, containing management tips, human-interest features, profiles
of respiratory care leaders, and more.
Patient & Family Support
The AARC supports patients and families with lung disease via www.YourLung
Health.org. The website features news links, information
on diseases and conditions, tips on living with lung disease, and forums
where patients and families can share experiences.
The site also includes a comprehensive listing of hospitals and home care companies nationwide that have earned the Association’s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) designation for meeting strict standards related to the provision of respiratory care.
International
The Association maintains an international presence via an annual International
Fellowship Program sponsored in conjunction with the American Respiratory
Care Foundation. Along with the International Respiratory Congress, which
attracts respiratory care professionals from around the world, the program
enables the AARC and its members to promote an ongoing exchange of information
that leads to better respiratory care for all.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact us via e-mail, phone, or regular
post:
American Association for Respiratory Care
9425 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 100
Irving, TX 75063-4706
Phone (972) 243-2272
Fax (972) 484-2720
E-mail: info@aarc.org
For Public Relations or Communications assistance, please contact:
Sherry Milligan
Associate Executive Director
(972) 406-4656
milligan@aarc.org
