Professional Activities

Dawn Rost

NDSRC Delegate

(Excerpt from Frank Salvatore Jr. Delegate-State of Connecticut) 

Obituaries

• Respiratory Therapy (RT) 04-15-1947 - 20??

RT died today at the much too young age of 60 something. RT is survived by both the Nursing and Physical Therapy profession whom are the only recognized providers of Respiratory Care by the Federal Government.

RT died after getting the dreaded disease of APATHY. It was never more apparent than in the 2000’s when they were asked to ADVOCATE for their patients and themselves. Their goal was to seek recognition of Respiratory Therapists under the Medicare Home Health Benefit. Too many of its lifeblood (members) did not feel it was important enough because it did not affect them directly, after all, they weren’t home care therapists.

As APATHY grew, a firestorm of infection brewed. Hospital CEO’s saw that RN’s and PT’s could do the job outside of the hospital and decided those professions should try it in the hospital as well, it may save them money.

RT put up a gallant fight, but it finally succumbed to the APATHY.

RT will be laid to rest in a hospital near you tomorrow. Contributions in memory of RT can be made to the charity of ones

It has never been more important than now to become or remain an active AARC member. The AARC continues to encourage and promote professional excellence, advance the science and practice of respiratory care and serve as an advocate for patients, their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist. The current focus of the AARC remains in the areas of advocacy, public relations, partnerships, membership and resources. Take a look at the AARC website, see the connections through webcasts, teleconferences, capital connection, and see what they can do for you, the therapist, today. The possibilities are endless. Respiratory Therapy needs grassroots attention now more than ever. We need to act as a political voice for patients to gain access to respiratory therapists in the home.

House Bill 964 is legislation that is introduced to recognize the services of respiratory therapists under Medicare’s Home Health Services Benefit. Senate Bill 1440 is the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act that would help to clarify Medicare’s policy on pulmonary rehabilitation and coverage for these services. The AARC is working on the 435 Plan which is an effort to identify two respiratory therapists and one consumer in each of the 435 Congressional districts. These members would be contact individuals to assist in relaying pertinent information as it arises during legislative sessions to encourage letter writing and political contacts to be made. It is anticipated that 2006 will be a very active year for the profession of respiratory therapy and federal health policy at the government level.