AARC Election 2025 — Cheryl Hoerr

AARC Activities:

• Member, American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), 1986 – present
• AARC/SCCM Clinical Practice Guideline Development Team, 2022 – present: Spontaneous Breathing Trials
• Policy Committee Chair 2020 – present
• Vice President – Internal Affairs, 2018-2022
• Management Specialty Section, Interim Chair 2010, Chair 2015 – 2018
• Diagnostics Specialty Section, 2009 – present
• Sleep Specialty Section, 2009 – present
• Program Committee, 2009 – 2014; Chair 2011 – 2013
• Benchmarking/SESG Committee, 2010 – present; Chair 2020
• AARC Leadership Institute, On-line educational module development
• Advanced Leadership Course – Chapter 2: Establishing Value for the Respiratory Care Department – 2021
• MCC102: Leadership and Your Organization – 2013
• MCC103: Leadership and Team Building – 2013
• AARC Current Topics in Respiratory Care, educational DVD program, 2016 – Infection Prevention: Translating Science into Practice

Affiliate Activities:

• Member, Missouri Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC), 1986 – present
• Chair – Annual Fall Specialty Conference, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Past President, 2014-2015
• President, 2012 – 2014
• President Elect, 2010 – 2012
• Director at Large, 2007 – 2010
• District I Vice President, 2006 – 2007
• District I Secretary 2004 – 2006

Related Organizations:

• Member, National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), 1982 – present
• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
• National Coalition to Promote the Safe Use of Complex Healthcare Technology, 2017 – 2019
• Member, American College for Respiratory Therapy Education (ACRTE), 2021 – present

Education:

• Respiratory Therapy Community Advisory Board
  • University of Missouri MHS in Clinical and Diagnostic Science 2020 – present
  • Ozarks Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program 2018 – present
  • St. Louis College of Health Careers 2009 – present
  • Missouri State University – West Plains 2011 – 2018
  • Rolla Technical College 2009 – 2016, Chair 2009 – 2011
  • Hannibal-LaGrange Technical College 2003 – 2008
  • St. Louis Community College at Forest Park 2003 – 2008
  • JCCC RT Program, Overland Park KS 1999 – 2003, Chair 2000 – 2002
• RT Program Curriculum and Catalog Development – East Central Community College, 2023-2024
• Adjunct Faculty – School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Bachelor of Allied Health Management program, Lindenwood University, 2014 – 2017
• Specialty Instructor
• “Professionalism”. Missouri State University – West Plains, 2012 – 2018
• “Respiratory Management”. Rolla Technical Institute, 2009 – 2016
• “Disaster Preparedness”. St. Louis College of Health Careers, 2009 – 2010
• “Physician Assisted Procedures” and “Pulmonary Rehabilitation”. Johnson County Community College, 1995 – 2011

Publications:

• AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Spontaneous Breathing Trials for Liberation from Adult Mechanical Ventilation. (in press). Respiratory Care March 2024, respcare.11735; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.11735.
• Burnout Among Respiratory Therapists Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic. Respiratory Care December 2022, 67 (12) 1578-1587; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10144
• Enhancing Respiratory Therapists Well-Being: Battling Burnout in Respiratory Care. Respiratory Care December 2022, respcare.10632; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10632
• Factors Associated with a Positive View of Respiratory Care Leadership. Respiratory Care June 2022, respcare.10081; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10081
• Prevalence of Burnout Among Respiratory Therapists Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Respiratory Care November 2021, 66 (11) 1639-1648; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.09283
• Utilizing Respiratory Therapists to Reduce Costs of Care. Respiratory Care. January 2018, 63 (1) 102-117; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.05808
• Therapist-Directed Protocols Designed with Health-Care Reform in Mind. Respiratory Care February 2015, 60 (2) 304-305; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.03898
• Do We Have the Equipment to Safely Support the Pediatric Patient with Sleep Disorders? AARC Times. 2010. 34(10):10-12.
• Titrating Oxygen and Positive Pressure: Practical Considerations for the Respiratory Therapist. AARC Times.2010; 34(8):8-1.
• CPAP – Is All Pressure Created Equal? AARC Times. 2010; 34(4):30-32.
• Infection Control: Minimizing the Risk of Healthcare Acquired Infection. RT Magazine. July 2010; 8-10.
• Social Networking for RT Managers. AARC Management Section Newsletter, Summer, 2010.
• Quality Assurance in the Pulmonary Function Testing Lab. AARC Diagnostics Section Bulletin. Fall, 2009.

Elections Committee Questions:

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the profession of respiratory care, and what do you recommend the AARC do to address it?

Our biggest challenge is engendering a new mindset into our community of respiratory therapists. The majority of practicing RTs are not members of the AARC because they believe there is no benefit to to belonging to our professional association. There is much misconception and most don’t really understand the structure of the AARC, and that it is Respiratory Therapists who are leading the organization. We need to continue put the word out, advertise, inform, and involve as many RTs as we possibly can recruit to help spread the word about the amazing activities and changes that the AARC has gone through with the goal of promoting and elevating the profession. More members means more clout with lawmakers as well as increased visibility within our communities.

Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What ideas do you have to help today’s respiratory therapist meet these changes?

Respiratory Therapists need support at all levels. We need more RT Programs to train the therapists of the future, and ensure there are enough RTs to not only replace more experienced therapists as they approach retirement, but to expand our profession to populations that are woefully underserved currently. I believe that the profession will not survive if we cannot agree that Bachelor’s should be a minimum to practice in our field; we collaborate with professionals who are educated to the Masters and Doctorate level and we need to level our playing field to be perceived as equals. I also believe that every RT should be working with legislative efforts to have RTs recognized as professionals, to have them be reimbursed for the care they provide, and to have the power to provide care to patients outside of the traditional hospital setting.

Two of our greatest ongoing concerns are promoting the profession and increasing membership. What are your solutions to address these needs?

As a current committee chair I have been impressed and immensely thankful that the AARC has taken steps to provide more assistance to committee chairs. Their support facilitates better communication between committee members. Better communication improves understanding of not only the specific tasks that have been assigned to the committee, but also allows committee members to understand how their assigned tasks support the strategic plan. As a result of the AARC Board’s transparency and dedication to developing a very specific plan with associated goals and tactics, my job as a committee chair is made easier because I have a clear understanding of the “hows” and the “whys” of my goals, how they fit into the strategic plan, and how my committee supports that same plan. Once committee members are all on the same page with their goal, the assigned projects are much easier to complete and support the goals of the Association.