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AARC 2022-2025 Strategic Plan Updates

The AARC BOD dedicated $5 million to strategic funds to move the respiratory therapy profession into the post-Covid era. In May 2022, the AARC, House of Delegate officers and other key personnel formulated an organizational Vision and Strategic Plan. To review the full plan click here.

Summer 2024 Updates

Engage

We will build and strengthen a diverse and inclusive professional community.

  • Increase Membership and Retention: increased to >41K members
    • Retention increased to 78% overall and 90% for active members.
    • New Clinical Educators Committee introduced.
    • Engage Students and Early Professionals:
      • Established TikTok, increased social media engagement across all platforms. 187% Audience Growth and 157% Engagement Growth in 2023.
      • Contracted with RT Coach as social media influencer in mid-Feb. Co-branding and tagging increased our reach by 800% on Instagram and Tik Tok and increased AARC followers significantly.
      • Student Ambassadors joined into Specialty Sections.
      • Early Professional retention to 79% in 2024 from a previous 40%.
    • IDEAA: completed EO, HOD, BOD training, acting on 2023 survey with 2024 IDEAA plan focused on governance, programs, operations and transparency. (ongoing)
    • Rebranding: AARC rebrand and website launched Dec 2023.
      • ARCF rebrand and website begins is underway and hopes to be completed by end of year.
    • Online Volunteer Portal: launched June 2023 – building opportunities.
    • Emerging Leaders Program: 70 applicants applied, 13 chosen and paired with top RT leaders for mentorship
    • Surveys: Be the Voice! Participate!
      • Education taskforce, SESG, and Human Resource surveys

Elevate

We will advance the recognition and role of respiratory therapists.

  • PR Campaign: More that 95 media placements in 2023 that interviewed or quoted a RT and delivered 2.2 billion impressions. Fall Board approved a broader scope with PR agency for 2024, to include thought leadership, media, digital and social campaigns, advocacy initiatives
  • Hospital Executive / C Suite: New wave launched in Q1 with new
    ‘Air of Excellence’ narrative / campaign
  • APRT: September 2023 APRT Summit. June 2024 Education Summit completed
  • Allied Health Relationships: ATS, CHEST, Advocacy Coalition, HOSA Premier Partnership and leadership affiliations such as ACHE, NAP, Beckers, AHA. Increased engagement in marketing, communications, advocacy events in 2024
  • Respiratory Care Collaborative: collaborated with CoARC
    and the NBRC on a SF workshop for RT educators – Sharing
    best practices in program recruiting. More RTs ongoing.
  • AARC – HOSA Premier Partnership – RT curricula in HOSA school programs, access to 280K HOSA members and affiliates in all 50 states.
    • Respiratory Care Taskforce: co-developed RT curricula –  textbook, references, written exam and skills competition for fall ‘23 school year.
    • 2024 HOSA International Leadership Conference with 12,700 students in attendance. 2024 ILC included RT Competitions and 2 RT scholarships awarded to future RT students
    • State level events and workshops:
      • AARC HOSA toolkit and AARC booth kit available to conduct local events and workshops. 17 state-level HOSA events supported, along with more than 150 HOSA digital toolkit downloads.
      • Introduced a $200 grant to cover HOSA related costs for State Affiliates. 9 grants submitted.
      • Designed program for state societies to purchase their own HOSA/Be an RT booth kit to be used for local events. Designed and imaged toolkits and fulfilled orders with 13 state societies

Advocate

We will champion policies and initiatives that enhance respiratory care.

  • Increase RT Engagement in Advocacy Initiatives: ongoing
    • Continuous coverage in AARC News, website and social media
    • Robust engagement in Action Alerts and Muster software platform outreach to Congress
    • Advocacy toolkits for each state, social media and Fly-In included assets to engage with representatives, including images and talking points.
  • Allied Healthcare Workforce Diversity Act: Passed, but unfunded
    • A bill introduced as the “Long-term Care Workforce Support Act” incorporates the grant funding for the Workforce Diversity Act and establishes a grant program, allocating $10 million over five years, to provide financial support for students pursuing careers in various allied health fields, including respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professions.
    • Senate Finance Committee Republican Leadership supports Funding
    • Eligibility includes individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities, or are from disadvantaged backgrounds or individuals with a disability.
  • Compact Licensure: DOD Grant awarded and CSG Technical Assistance Group has met.
  • Increase Engagement with the Administration, Federal Agencies and Regulatory Bodies:
    • CMS listening sessions
    • VHA  “incubator” relationship for the future of respiratory care
    • Congress – Annual AARC Respiratory Care Fly-In 2024
    • SOAR Act considered in both Senate and House in 2024
    • Statement on Menthol tobacco with coalition
  • Expand Patient Access to RTs Outside Acute Care Hospitals:
    • SOAR: Supplemental Oxygen Reform Bill: Opportunity to create a service element to provide adequate reimbursement for respiratory therapists to ensure patients have access to their expertise.

Educate

We will deliver premier, evidence-based learning opportunities and promote the art and science of respiratory care.

  • Create 3 New Clinical Practice Guidelines:
    • 6 active CPG development teams.
  • Educational Resource for RC Research:
    • Regular feature provided in Respiratory Care journal.
    • Vision Grant –  LOI submission deadline in February.
  • Increase attendance at AARC events: ongoing
    • 2024 Summer Forum has record attendance
    • Program committee focus on engaging content and diverse speakers/presenters
    • Digital marketing and social media focused on new resources and value of attendance.
  • Increase Education Revenue by 10%
    • AARC exploring PFT accreditation program
    • AARC exploring Blood Gas Lab Management Certificate training
    • Introducing digital badging and micro-credentialing.
    • Created the Education Advisory Council (EAC) to aid in vetting content to ensure top tier continuing education.
    • Recently launched a 6-part Asthma Educator Series focusing on clinical skills, medications, treatment guidelines and bringing asthma into the community. Partially sponsored by Monaghan.
    • Updating the education portfolio with new educational content and sponsorship opportunities.
  • Explore Feasibility of Additional Journal: actively investigating a model to support the growth of the flagship Journal and an additional scientific publication.