The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.
To qualify for the recognition, Brunswick Medical Center met the following conditions:
• All 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.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specified respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
• Hospital policy prohibits the routine delivery of medicated aerosol treatments utilizing small volume nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, or intermittent positive pressure treatments to multiple patients simultaneously. Circumstances under which this practice is permitted are defined by policy.
• Use a process that periodically compares performance of its respiratory department on efficiency and quality metrics with similar departments for the purpose of identifying and achieving best practice.
The AARC's QRCR program grew out of growing concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care.
Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under a physician's 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-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.
Brunswick Medical Center’s cardiopulmonary services include pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and breathing treatments. The hospital’s licensed respiratory therapists are also available 24/7 to respond to respiratory emergencies in the emergency department and throughout the hospital. Respiratory therapists also provide care to patients in the hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation program, which is an education and exercise program designed to help individuals who have lung disease or serious breathing difficulties.
The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 50,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide. For more information on the quality of services provided at Brunswick Medical Center, visit NovantHealth.org/Brunswick, or for a list of all hospitals who have received the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition, visit YourLungHealth.org.
About Novant Health
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