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 OakBend in Top 15% of US Hospitals for Respriatory Care
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Richmond, TEXAS - March 20, 2008 -
OakBend Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition
(QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families
make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care
services available in hospitals. 
About
700 hospital or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States
have applied for and received this award. This is the 4th time OakBend
has received this award.
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 quality for the recognition OakBend provided documentation showing it meets 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.
- Other
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.
- A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
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. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at
the association’s website for consumers, YourLungHealth.org.
Respiratory
therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work
under physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing
treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic
obstruction 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 46,000 health
professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.
For further information contact: Tracey J. Shaw , Marketing & Development (281 238 7821)
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