Respiratory therapists have training and expertise that make them uniquely positioned to participate in clinical innovations that solve problems at the bedside to improve patient, process and financial outcomes. This lecture will focus on collaborative models between universities and clinical staff which contribute to the success of innovation hubs.

Change in health care is constant, so how do we prepare respiratory therapy students to be active participants in the process? This interactive presentation will describe how culminating projects can be used for students to collaborate with community leaders and recommend evidence-based changes. Examples of projects which have been implemented in local hospitals will be highlighted. Brainstorming and information sharing amongst participants will expand the potential for implementing capstone assignments into RT curricula.

The presentation will provide an overview of the challenges faced and actions taken on a large scale while leading 12 hospital’s efforts to meet COVID-19 head-on. The discussion will include how coordinating efforts regarding supplies, equipment, ventilators, policies, procedures, automated reporting by hospital and region on the numbers of ventilators in-use and even crisis standards of care helped tremendously during the crisis.

As we enter the last phase of this pandemic, we should pause to highlight what when well and where opportunities exist for where we can do better as a profession. In this symposium we will present what appear to be best practices, innovation and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The presenter is discussing elements of online student motivation, burnout, and resiliency found within a population of degree advancement students, many of whom are practicing therapists in the COVID-19 pandemic. Online degree advancement programs are a pathway to meet the demands and expectations of a growing profession. High stress work environments could have an impact on motivation and pose enrollment challenges. Retaining knowledgeable and well-trained professionals in the field of Respiratory Care is a priority. Burnout may be underreported in Respiratory Therapists. This exploration addresses recruitment, retention, and engagement efforts as well as types of support needed for academic and professional success.

Many respiratory care departments express that they don’t have the resources available to them to produce quality research projects. They state limiting factors such as time, people and administrative support as reasons for not conducting research within their own departments. This presentation will explain how one respiratory care department overcame all those limitations to be able to produce quality research projects that had a positive impact on patient outcomes.

From all appearances, Donna was living her best student life: a successful undergraduate student who was actively engaged in her respiratory therapy program. But Donna had a dilemma. She struggled with the pace of the program, faltering grades, increasing remediation requirements, and impending academic probation. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique–other students were experiencing the same issues.

Attendees will hear the history of how we evaluated student preparatory academic skills; how we addressed reflection, self-assessment, and metacognition skills; how we came to build a collaborative relationship; and the steps we took to bridge the gaps between the students, faculty, and Success Center services. Highlighted resources include an academic skills assessment, an overview of a remediation policy, a student academic improvement plan, lunch and learn topics with objectives, and peer tutoring resources.