Boone County Hospital (BCH) has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) for helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals.
Approximately 500 or 10 percent of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award. BCH Respiratory Care has been recognized for this endeavor each year since 2003.
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 this designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services. Hospitals that meet the requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care.
To qualify for the recognition, BCH provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:
- All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital 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 a day.
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.
Respiratory Care provides 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. |