News

Beebe Medical Center Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition for Second Year

06/28/04

Beebe Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) for the second year in a row under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals. The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) started the QRCR program in 2003 to help consumers identify facilities that utilize qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Approximately 550 of the 5,000 hospitals in the United States have been named Quality Respiratory Care institutions.

Beebe Medical Center, along with other hospitals earning the QRCR designation, ensures patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing respiratory care services. To qualify for the recognition, Beebe Medical Center provided documentation showing it is continuing to meet the following conditions:

wAll respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.
wRespiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
wOther personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
wA doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services. Dr. Michael Salvatore serves in this role at Beebe Medical Center.

The AARC’s QRCR program grew out of increasing concerns among healthcare leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of healthcare services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the associations website for consumers, www.YourLungHealth.org.

Respiratory therapists are specially trained healthcare professionals who work under physicians’ orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 33,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.