The respiratory care services at Nash Health Care recently received Quality Respiratory Care Recognition from the American Association of Respiratory Care. About 700 hospitals-or roughly 15 percent of the hospitals in the United States ---have received this award.

Respiratory therapists are 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 obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung or lung-related conditions.

The American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide. In order to receive the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition, Nash Health Care had to demonstrate that;

• All NHCS respiratory therapists are either Certified Respiratory therapists (CRTs) or Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). The CRT is an examination and is used to measure the abilities, skills, and knowledge that are needed for entry level respiratory therapists. The RRT is an exam taken by advanced respiratory therapists and is used to measure the abilities, skills, and knowledge that are needed by these healthcare professionals. One must have the CRT credential to be able to take the RRT examination.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
• Extensive documentation is completed on personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures.
• A physician is designated as the respiratory care director.

"Receiving this designation is truly an honor; it represents extensive teamwork and adherence to the highest standards," said David Long, manager of special medicine at Nash General Hospital. "For our patients, it provides assurance that we are dedicated to superior respiratory care."

The American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.