AARC Tackles Lung Health

For Immediate Release

IRVING, TEX. (April 30, 2004) – What do professional football players, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), the Living Heart Foundation (LHF) and InnerLink, Inc. have in common?

“That would be a concern for the health of professional athletes,” says AARC chief operating officer Kevin L. Shrake, MA, RRT, FAARC. “These organizations along with several others have teamed up to offer a unique health screening program to professional football players.”

The Cardiovascular Health Screenings Program, which began last summer with a pilot screening of the New York Giants, offered its third screening in Celebration, Fla., on April 26-27. The screenings use respiratory therapists who are also AARC members to screen players for lung disease and other health care professionals to screen for cardiovascular diseases.

Respiratory therapists in New York were the first to participate in the program. “The interaction with the players was a really rewarding experience,” says Patty Hyland, MEd, RRT, a professor at Hudson Valley Community College in New York. “The players appreciated us and were glad that we were there.

“Being involved in the beginning of this project was exciting because the program has the potential to bring the role of the respiratory therapist to those in professional football and to the attention of the public,” she adds.

The program was created by the LHF to provide voluntary health screenings for both current and retired professional football players. The LHF worked closely with professional football physicians, athletic trainers, coaches and players' groups to develop the pilot program.

LHF founder and director, Arthur “Archie” Roberts, MD, a former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins and now a retired heart surgeon, developed the program following a mild stroke. Realizing he needed to make better decisions about his own health, he put together an early warning program for football players.

“The idea,” says Dr. Roberts, “is to help professional athletes learn more about their health and ways to effectively stay healthy as they age. The screenings in our program are designed to do just that.”

The second screening took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Where respiratory therapists Betty Marcus, RPFT, and John Nydam, RRT, RPFT, represented the AARC.

Says Marcus, “It was exciting to be around the football players. For them it was like a reunion, and they were happy that we were doing this for them. It was very satisfying to work with Dr. Roberts and these notable people. We knew that what we were doing could help these football players learn more about their health.”

When it came time to perform the screenings, Dr. Roberts and InnerLink, Inc. chief medical officer and founder Robert G. Gillio, MD, looked to professionals who had experience in key areas. One key area, lung disease, is one of the fastest growing in the U.S.; particularly on the rise is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“The quality of the data captured in spirometry is directly dependant on the effort of the patient and the skill and technique of the person administering the test. In my experience in the hospital, in the pulmonary function lab, and even at the Ground Zero Clinic in New York City, it was clear that professional respiratory therapists were key,” says Dr. Gillio.

When it came time to work on this program, both Drs. Roberts and Gillio agreed that they would use respiratory therapists who were also members of the AARC.

“It was the only way I knew that we could get consistent quality staff for the spirometry screenings across the country. AARC member RTs are the respiratory health professionals I turn to for testing and therapeutics in my practice and public health screening activities,” Dr. Gillio adds.

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About the AARC
The AARC, the only professional membership association for respiratory therapists, focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. The Association continues to advocate, on behalf of pulmonary patients, for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals.

About the Living Heart Foundation
The Living Heart Foundation (LHF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and was initially funded by a grant from the Edison Foundation. The LHF was established by retired cardiac surgeon Arthur J. Roberts, M.D. in April 2001 to combat sudden cardiac death and to provide risk stratification with early intervention for cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic conditions through on-site screening and integrated health programs. LHF is dedicated to providing services to specific groups that traditionally have been overlooked, especially high school, college and professional athletes.

About InnerLink
InnerLink, Inc., based in Lancaster, PA and on the web at www.innerlinkit.com , is a health and safety education and information management technology company founded Robert G. Gillio, MD, a pulmonologist and accomplished inventor. InnerLink's mission is to help people adopt healthier lifestyles through education and community awareness. InnerLink's TEAM © Health Record was customized by the LHF to capture the vital statistics from Cardiovascular Health Screening participants.

AARC Tackles Lung Health in the Big Leagues

In Partnership with Living Heart Foundation, AARC RTs Participate in Lung Health Screenings

		AARC Tackles Lung Health in the Big Leagues In Partnership with Living Heart Foundation, AARC RTs Participate in Lung Health Screenings For Immediate Release IRVING, TEX. (April 30, 2004) – What do professional football players, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), the Living Heart Foundation (LHF) and InnerLink, Inc. have in common? “That would be a concern for the health of professional athletes,” says AARC chief operating officer Kevin L. Shrake, MA, RRT, FAARC. “These organizations along with several others have teamed up to offer a unique health screening program to professional football players.” The Cardiovascular Health Screenings Program, which began last summer with a pilot screening of the New York Giants, offered its third screening in Celebration, Fla., on April 26-27. The screenings use respiratory therapists who are also AARC members to screen players for lung disease and other health care professionals to screen for cardiovascular diseases. Respiratory therapists in New York were the first to participate in the program. “The interaction with the players was a really rewarding experience,” says Patty Hyland, MEd, RRT, a professor at Hudson Valley Community College in New York. “The players appreciated us and were glad that we were there. “Being involved in the beginning of this project was exciting because the program has the potential to bring the role of the respiratory therapist to those in professional football and to the attention of the public,” she adds. The program was created by the LHF to provide voluntary health screenings for both current and retired professional football players. The LHF worked closely with professional football physicians, athletic trainers, coaches and players' groups to develop the pilot program. LHF founder and director, Arthur “Archie” Roberts, MD, a former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins and now a retired heart surgeon, developed the program following a mild stroke. Realizing he needed to make better decisions about his own health, he put together an early warning program for football players. “The idea,” says Dr. Roberts, “is to help professional athletes learn more about their health and ways to effectively stay healthy as they age. The screenings in our program are designed to do just that.” The second screening took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Where respiratory therapists Betty Marcus, RPFT, and John Nydam, RRT, RPFT, represented the AARC. Says Marcus, “It was exciting to be around the football players. For them it was like a reunion, and they were happy that we were doing this for them. It was very satisfying to work with Dr. Roberts and these notable people. We knew that what we were doing could help these football players learn more about their health.” When it came time to perform the screenings, Dr. Roberts and InnerLink, Inc. chief medical officer and founder Robert G. Gillio, MD, looked to professionals who had experience in key areas. One key area, lung disease, is one of the fastest growing in the U.S.; particularly on the rise is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “The quality of the data captured in spirometry is directly dependant on the effort of the patient and the skill and technique of the person administering the test. In my experience in the hospital, in the pulmonary function lab, and even at the Ground Zero Clinic in New York City, it was clear that professional respiratory therapists were key,” says Dr. Gillio. When it came time to work on this program, both Drs. Roberts and Gillio agreed that they would use respiratory therapists who were also members of the AARC. “It was the only way I knew that we could get consistent quality staff for the spirometry screenings across the country. AARC member RTs are the respiratory health professionals I turn to for testing and therapeutics in my practice and public health screening activities,” Dr. Gillio adds. ### About the AARC The AARC, the only professional membership association for respiratory therapists, focuses primarily on respiratory therapy education and research. Its goals are to ensure that respiratory patients receive safe and effective care from qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. The Association continues to advocate, on behalf of pulmonary patients, for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals. About the Living Heart Foundation The Living Heart Foundation (LHF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and was initially funded by a grant from the Edison Foundation. The LHF was established by retired cardiac surgeon Arthur J. Roberts, M.D. in April 2001 to combat sudden cardiac death and to provide risk stratification with early intervention for cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic conditions through on-site screening and integrated health programs. LHF is dedicated to providing services to specific groups that traditionally have been overlooked, especially high school, college and professional athletes. About InnerLink InnerLink, Inc., based in Lancaster, PA and on the web at www.innerlinkit.com , is a health and safety education and information management technology company founded Robert G. Gillio, MD, a pulmonologist and accomplished inventor. InnerLink's mission is to help people adopt healthier lifestyles through education and community awareness. InnerLink's TEAM © Health Record was customized by the LHF to capture the vital statistics from Cardiovascular Health Screening participants. Contact: Kris Williams AARC Communications Manager (972) 406-4690, Williams@aarc.org