October 12, 2007

Let Your Voice Be Heard
AARC members are busy reviewing the candidates in this year’s AARC Elections and weighing in with their vote. If you’ve yet to make your voice heard, please take a few moments to read about the people running for office and then cast your ballot. Online voting continues through November 1 and is open to all Active and Life AARC members.

Look to AARC for Last Minute RC Week Plans
Respiratory Care Week is less than two weeks away, but there's still time to take advantage of the great RC Week resources on the AARC web site. So if you're looking for activities to add to your celebrations, check it out. We have everything from a Toolkit to help you plan your events to 100 Ideas you can use in your own community.

Push That Vent for Respiratory Health
Here's one more great activity you could put to work during RC Week, or anytime, for that matter: the ARCF's Ventilator 5K. Just get some teams together, set up a creative course, alert the local media, and have fun raising money for local respiratory care concerns.

AARC Congress — An Event Full of Events
By now, you already know this annual respiratory care meeting is loaded with education, new research, exhibits and more that will specifically enhance your professional knowledge. But if you step outside the usual sessions over a 4-day period, you'll find even more on tap..... premier keynote speakers..... the Sputum Bowl competition..... orientation for first time attendees..... free breakfast sessions..... and social activities that give you plenty of time to greet old friends and make new ones. Make AARC Congress your meeting of choice this December.

ALERT: Discounted registration ends Oct. 31.

60 Minutes Features Life & Times of Forrest Bird
Many respiratory therapists first learned of Forrest Bird and the impact he's had on our profession in school. Now the whole country is finding out how he has influenced respiratory care as well. Dr. Bird was the focus of a 60 Minutes interview last Sunday, and if you missed it, you can still watch it online.

AARC On Hand for Health Professions Network Meeting
The AARC once again represented the profession at the regular meeting of the Health Professions Network, a group of about 200 organizations, educators, regulators, and government agencies with an interest in promoting the allied health professions. Chief on the agenda were presentations on diversity, communications, legal regulation, educational initiatives, and stress management. Attendees also heard an update on a proposal to attract sponsors to help build a major nationwide program to raise public awareness of health professionals other than physicians and nurses.

The Koppels Promote Pulmonary Rehabilitation
COPD patient Grace Anne Dorney Koppel and her husband, well known journalist Ted Koppel, were on Capitol Hill recently for a series of meetings aimed at promoting legislation to require Medicare to cover pulmonary rehabilitation. The AARC was proud to be part of the mix. Attending on our behalf were Executive Director Sam Giordano and Legislative Affairs Representative Miriam O’Day.

Good Press: AARC Members in the News
Check out our latest list of newsmakers and find out how AARC members are raising awareness of the profession all across the country. Of particular note: two educators who report great progress on partnering with local hospitals.

Comments or questions? Send them to info@aarc.org.