Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The AARC acknowledges that respiratory therapists in both the civilian and uniformed/military services are integral members of the health care team, in hospitals, home health care settings, pulmonary laboratories, rehabilitation programs and all other environments (including ICU’s and critical care transport) where respiratory care is practiced.

The AARC recognizes that education and training of the respiratory therapist is the best method by which to instill the ability to improve the patient's quality and longevity of life, and that such information should be included in their formal education and training in CoARC accredited programs.

The AARC recognizes the respiratory therapist's responsibility to participate in pulmonary disease teaching, smoking cessation programs, pulmonary function studies for the public, air pollution alerts, allergy warnings, and sulfite warnings in restaurants, as well as research in those and other areas where efforts could promote improved health and disease prevention. Furthermore, the respiratory therapist is in a unique position to provide leadership in determining health promotion and disease prevention activities for students, faculty, practitioners, patients, and the general public in both civilian and uniformed service environments.

The AARC recognizes the need to 1) provide and promote consumer education related to the prevention and control of pulmonary disease, 2) establish a strong working relationship with other health agencies, educational institutions, Federal and state government, businesses, military and other community organizations, and 3) monitor such activities. Furthermore, the AARC supports efforts to develop personal and professional wellness models and action plans that will inspire and encourage all respiratory therapists to cooperate on health promotion and cardiorespiratory disease prevention.

Effective 1985
Revised 2000
Revised 2005