41^st Donald F Egan Scientific Memorial Lecture

This lecture provides an overview of in-depth information about dynamic aspects of pulmonary physiology, pulmonary medicine, or clinical respiratory care. The lectureship is extended to a recognized world-class participant in the area of interest - investigator, clinician, or academician.

What Have We Learned about Noninvasive Ventilation in the Past 20 Years?

Laurent Brochard MD, Toronto Canada

Twenty years ago, noninvasive ventilation was introduced into acute care practice. This therapy is now widely used in the acute care setting. This lecture will address the evolution of noninvasive ventilation over the past 20 years, presented by an individual who has made much academic contribution to this field.

OPEN FORUM Editors' Choice

Abstracts in this session were selected by the RESPIRATORY CARE Editors and reviewers as the most outstanding ones submitted for this year's OPEN FORUM. Each Editors' Choice author will give a 10-minute slide presentation, followed by 10-minute of audience questions and discussion.

Lack of Compliance with Lung-Protective Ventilation Is Not Due to Inaccurate Height Measurement

Terry L Forrette MHS RRT FAARC, New Orleans LA

Accuracy of the Electronic Health Record Patient Height

Matthew C Jurecki , Cleveland OH

End-tidal Capnography Utilization in Determining Cardiac Arrest Outcomes in the Emergency Department

Nancy G Graff RRT RPSGT, Grand Rapids MI

Use of a Respiratory Care Practitioner Disease Management (RCP-DM) Program for Patients Hospitalized with COPD

Robin Kidder RRT AE-C, St Louis MO

A Comparison of Positive Pressure Modalities in a Respiratory Therapist Driven Protocol for Patients Post Anatomic Lung Resection

Jenny Hsieh , Chicago IL

Infant Pulmonary Function Testing and High Resolution Controlled Ventilation Chest CT as Predictors for Extubation in Endotracheally Intubated Infants with Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Courtney R Cira MS RRT, Columbus OH

Adult Acute Care Section Membership Meeting

Keith D Lamb RRT-ACCS/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Open Forum #9 - Aerosols/Drugs - Part II

Researches and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

Open Forum #10 - Management

Researches and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

Surface & Air Transport Section Membership Meeting

Billy L Hutchison RRT-NPS/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Neonatal-Pediatric Clinical Cases - An Interactive Discussion

Ira M Cheifetz MD FCCM FAARC, Durham NC
Lisa Tyler MSM RRT-NPS CPFT, Philadelphia PA

Back by popular demand! This interactive, audience response session returns to the program. Interesting and informative neonatal and pediatric cases will be presented in an interactive, audience-response fashion. Come learn and share your thoughts on the management of difficult critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients with respiratory failure.

How to Sleep with a Broken Heart: Impact of Sleep-Disordered Breathing on Cardiac Conditions

Amber L Galer RRT, West Point UT

Sleep-disordered breathing can lead to many health complications, especially cardiac arrhythmias and, potentially, congestive heart failure. Learn when to refer for a sleep study as well as the various types of SDB that potentially may emerge. This lecture will provide insight into the various treatment options available to cardiac patients as well as the importance of adhering to treatment.

Skating to Where the Puck is Going - Business Strategies that Support Success

Joy E Hargett MBA RRT, Manvel TX

Understanding where health care is headed is an arduous, unpredictable, and frustrating expedition. Being nimble and adaptable are key elements to success, whether you are a department manager, supervisor, or staff therapist. Using successful business strategies and leadership styles can guide you through these changing times to meet department and hospital objectives.

Advances in Pediatric Resuscitation: Implications for the Respiratory Therapist

Vinay Nadkarni MD, Philadelphia PA

Significant controversy and disbelief surrounding the lessening of the importance of ventilation during resuscitation continues to exist. This presentation by an international expert will review the science supporting the recent changes in the approach to resuscitation.

Ventilator Waveforms: Down To the Basics

Ruben D Restrepo MD RRT FAARC, San Antonio TX

Recognizing how ventilator waveforms are displayed is critical to understand patient-ventilator interactions and to optimize the management of patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. This presentation is designed to explain the foundational concepts behind every graphic displayed on the ventilator screen.

APRV Is Optimal for Preventing Lung Injury

Pro: Nader M Habashi MD FACP FCCP, Baltimore MD
Con: Robert M Kacmarek PhD RRT FAARC, Boston MA

This Pro-Con will be held to illuminate both sides of the very commonly debated topic of whether or not Airway Pressure Release Ventilation should be used to manage patients with ARDS, or used to prevent ARDS.

Oxygen Therapy: Doing It Right

Oxygen Therapy: The Science Behind the Therapy

Brian W Carlin MD FAARC, Pittsburgh PA

This session will review the science behind the use of oxygen therapy for patients with chronic lung disease.

Oxygen Therapy: Methods To Optimize Therapy

Kimberly Wiles RRT CPFT, Ford City PA

This session will focus on the practical aspects of setting up oxygen therapy in the home environment.

Home Oxygen Therapy: What is the Market Today and Where is it Going?

Joseph Lewarski RRT FAARC, Elyria OH

Home oxygen therapy has long been considered the foundation of the home respiratory business. Despite its business and social importance, it has been difficult to accurately quantify the size of the home oxygen market and its growth. The lecture presents data regarding the market size and uses a mathematical model to estimate the number of home oxygen therapy patients and the current growth rate.

Uncommon Etiologies of Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Distress: A Transport Case Series

Neonatal Respiratory Distress and Irritability: Neonatal Absence Syndrome (NAS) of a Different Etiology?

Bradley A Kuch RRT-NPS FAARC, Pittsburgh PA

Neonatal absence syndrome (NAS) continues to be a major reason for neonatal referral to tertiary care centers. A large majority of these referrals are a result of narcotic withdrawal; however withdrawal from non-narcotic pharmacologic agents can result in a similar presentation. Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are one such agent. The lecture will begin with a case-review of a neonate referred for respiratory distress and irritability of unknown etiology. Epidemiology, symptomatology, treatment, and outcome of neonatal SSRI withdrawal will be discussed. The lecture will conclude with a literature review of SSRI withdrawal in the neonatal patient.

Not All Cardiogenic Shock Comes From the Heart!

Steven E Sittig RRT-NPS FAARC, Rochester MN

This case study will discuss the presentation of a 3-day-old term infant arriving at a local emergency department with severe respiratory distress. Attendees will be lead through a systematic differential approach the pediatric transport team completed to stabilize this child. Ultimately the audience will learn the unique condition encountered and why all causes of respiratory distress may not be so evident. Discussion will then focus on pathology and treatment of this case of high cardiac output failure.

The 3 Most Interesting Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Cases I've Ever Seen

Steven E Sittig RRT-NPS FAARC

The specialty area of medical transport can be very dynamic as well as challenging. Any transport RT has stories to tell of their experiences and how even the best laid plans can throw you a twist to your day. Not unlike Forrest Gump's "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you are going to get." This lecture will focus on the speaker's most interesting transport cases in his career so far.

Best Practices in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Endurance Training and Exercise

Chris Garvey FNP MSN MPA FAACVPR, Daly City CA

Developing the best, individualized exercise program for the pulmonary rehabilitation patient is challenging. Incorporating aerobic exercise, strength training with upper and lower extremity exercises and oxygen titration for the oxygen dependent patient is a must. Where do you start? How do you do it? Come to this symposium and learn Best Practices.

Keeping Patients Oxygenated During Exercise Training Sessions

Trina M Limberg RRT FAARC FAACVPR, San Diego CA

Treating hypoxemia during exercise training can be challenging from finding the best delivery device to meeting the patient's oxygen demands to recommending a home oxygen system that will work. Oxygen titration is also very different for the obstructive versus the restrictive patient. How can you meet your patient's needs? Come to this presentation and take home clinically relevant information.

Exercise Training and Progression Case Studies

Carl Willoughby RRT, Eureka CA

Learn "Best Practices" on how to design a comprehensive exercise training program through Case Studies in a COPD, Restrictive and Pulmonary Hypertension Patient. Then take this data to the next level of patient outcomes.

Controversies in Neonatal-Pediatric Respiratory Care

Advances in Respiratory Monitoring Have Improved Outcomes

Pro: Michael D Davis RRT, Richmond VA
Con: Brian K Walsh MBA RRT-NPS FAARC, Boston MA

Advances in the technology to monitor the neonatal and pediatric patient with acute respiratory failure continue to occur. But, have these advances improved outcomes or simply increased the cost of medical care? This pro / con presentation will highlight both sides of this important clinical controversy.

Respiratory Therapy 2015 and Beyond: Applied Adult Acute Care Case Study

Respiratory Therapy 2015 and Beyond: Applied Adult Acute Care Case Study - Part I

Daniel D Rowley MSc RRT-ACCS NPS RPFT FAARC, Charlottesville VA

The roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists continue to expand in multidisciplinary care management of acutely ill patients. The AARC's 2015 and Beyond Task Force has identified seven major content areas with skills and attributes of graduate respiratory therapists that are needed to optimize participation in guiding patient care management. This case study presentation will demonstrate how each of the major competencies identified by the AARC's 2015 and Beyond Task Force may be readily applied in the adult acute care setting.

Respiratory Therapy 2015 and Beyond: Applied Adult Acute Care Case Study - Part II

Daniel D Rowley MSc RRT-ACCS NPS RPFT FAARC

The roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists continue to expand in multidisciplinary care management of acutely ill patients. The AARC's 2015 & Beyond Task Force has identified seven major content areas with skills and attributes of graduate respiratory therapists that are needed to optimize participation in guiding patient care management. This case study presentation will demonstrate how each of the major competencies identified by the AARC's 2015 and Beyond Task Force may be readily applied in the adult acute care setting.

Continuous Pulse Oximetry for Diagnostic Sleep Screening

Jon Carlson RT RRT-NPS, Buffalo NY

This presentation expands continuous pulse oximetry monitoring into a diagnostic system for identifying suspected sleep apnea and applying an algorithm-based protocol for quantifying and treating positive patients.

What Do You Mean That the Patient Is Not the #1 Customer?

Scott Reistad RRT CPFT FAARC, Colorado Springs CO

The changing health care world is causing many organizations to put in place customer satisfaction programs, re-write mission and vision statements, and to engage external consultants to improve patient satisfaction. Despite this, organizations continue to struggle to move the HCAHPS scores to demonstrate excellent patient satisfaction. It has been found that by "turning the focus upside down", your department can flourish, and as a result, patient satisfaction soars.

Ethics: An Interactive Case-Based Discussion

Shawna L Strickland PhD RRT-NPS AE-C FAARC, Irving TX
Lewis Rubinson MD PhD, Seattle WA

Respiratory therapists are faced with challenging clinical situations on a daily basis. This session will present three cases in which respiratory therapists are faced with an ethical dilemma and work through the cases to arrive at the most ethically supported outcome. The presenters will use an audience response system to provide participants the opportunity to share perspectives on these important scenarios.

Sleep in the ICU

Amber L Galer RRT, West Point UT

How much sleep do patients actually get in the ICU? Are we doing more harm than good? This lecture will explore the changes in sleep architecture of patients in the ICU and how this impacts their healing process.

Concierge Medicine: Is This the Future of Health Care?

Tammy Kurszewski MEd RRT, Burkburnett TX

Healthcare for the elite only! Boutique medical practices are appearing throughout the country. As the Affordable Care Act makes full impact on our nation's healthcare system, we are seeing increasing numbers trending toward concierge medicine. How will this VIP approach impact health care accessibility as well as quality of care for the average American? Is this the future of medicine in our country and how might this impact the practice of respiratory care?

Beyond the Epidural

Sheryl Sahr MD, Des Moines IA

It is well established that appropriate pain control is integral to avoiding adverse sequela after traumatic thoracic injury. Epidural analgesia is often relied upon to provide this. This presentation will cover alternatives to epidural pain control in this patient population.

Open Forum #11 - Airways Care

Researches and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

Open Forum #12 - Ventilation/Ventilators - Part II

Researches and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

Neonatal-Pediatrics Section Membership Meeting

Natalie Napolitano MPH RRT-NPS FAARC/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Sleep Section Membership Meeting

Karla M Smith RRT RPSGT/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Education Section Membership Meeting

Joseph G Sorbello MEd RRT/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Continuing Care/Rehab Section Membership Meeting

Gerilynn Connors RRT FAARC/Presiding
Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members, are invited to attend and to participate.

Specialty Care Transport: 2014 and Beyond

The Survey Says...: Results of a National Survey of Specialty Care Transport Teams

Alex J Brendel RRT-NPS MBA, Roanoke VA
Tabatha M Dragonberry RRT-NPS AE-C, Washington DC

In 2014, two Respiratory Care Practitioners surveyed Specialty Care transport teams across the country to find out how RCPs are being utilized. The survey included questions on: team composition, scope of practice, licensure requirements, educational requirements, competencies, and many other items. This presentation will review the results of the survey and discuss strategies for increasing the presence of RCPs on Specialty Care teams.

The Rules of the Road: What You Need to Know About Licensure & Interstate Transport

Alex J Brendel RRT-NPS MBA

There is a lot of confusion among Respiratory Care Practitioners about whether their home state's licensure laws cover them while on a transport to another state. This presentation will look at all of the states that currently have a reciprocity agreement or waiver in place for transport therapists and offer some strategies for approaching the states around you with a reciprocity agreement.

Intelligent Mechanical Ventilation: How Long Will We Stand in the Way?

Do We Need Smarter Machines or Respiratory Therapists?

Richard D Branson MSc RRT FAARC, Cincinnati OH

In today's digital age, computerized mechanical ventilators are in every ICU. Computerized ventilators have only driven up the cost and not improved the care we provide. Safe, effective, and lung protective ventilation can be provided by wise respiratory therapists without computerized automation.

Is Computerized Mechanical Ventilation Superior to the Respiratory Therapist?

Robert L Chatburn MHHS RRT-NPS FAARC, Cleveland OH

Automation of mechanical ventilation can be safely and effectively done today, but is computerized mechanical ventilation superior to the bedside respiratory therapist when it comes to timing and implementation of protocols? This lecture will review the current technology available for closed-loop ventilation.

Is Computer-Aided Decision Support the Middle Ground?

Brian K Walsh MBA RRT-NPS FAARC, Boston MA

Computer aided decision support has been around for years; however it has never been widely accepted in mechanical ventilation. This lecture will review plausible reasons why this may be the middle ground we require before accepting full automation of mechanical ventilation.

AARC Program Committee Spotlight - Patient Safety

So You Think Your Patient Has OSA

Amber L Galer RRT, West Point UT

This discussion will be case based. You are called to see a patient on the ward who is noted to have desaturations at night. What might make you think it is SDB? What are the risk factors? What could be done while the patient is admitted? Is it enough to simply recommend that the patient get tested after discharge - what are the liabilities for the hospital? How do you get a sleep study for the patient if indicated?

Sleep Disorders in Acute Care: The Surgical Patient

Julie Jackson BAS RRT-ACCS, Des Moines IA

OSA is an important co-morbidity in hospitalized patients. This lecture will look at what is being done to identify and care for the surgical patient from pre-operative evaluation and screening to the monitoring of these patients post-operatively.

Sleep Disorders in Acute Care: It's Not Your Father's CPAP

Cheryl A Hoerr MBA RRT CPFT FAARC, Rolla MO

This talk will cover APAP, servo devices, ramp, c-flex, and other modern technologies available in today's sleep machines. What's the RT to do when called to the floor to see a patient and the patient's device is one the therapist has never seen before? Should patients be allowed to use their home machine in the hospital?

Sleep Disorders in Acute Care: On the General Wards

Julie Jackson BAS RRT-ACCS

OSA is an important co-morbidity in hospitalized patients. This lecture will look at how this disorder relates to other events that occur within the hospital such as cardiopulmonary arrests, medical emergency team responses, and admissions to the ICU. This talk will also cover the possible correlation between OSA and trauma.

What If It's OSA? Operationalizing a Diagnose and Treat Program in Acute Care

Cheryl A Hoerr MBA RRT CPFT FAARC, Rolla MO

We're all becoming more aware of the prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the general population and the large number of patients who remain undiagnosed. How do you ensure these patients are treated effectively when they are hospitalized? This presentation will share the steps RT Directors must take, as well as some of the barriers they will encounter when operationalizing a "diagnose and treat" program in the acute care setting.

Want Your Employee Opinion Scores to Soar? Unit-Based Councils May Be Your Answer

Scott Reistad RRT CPFT FAARC, Colorado Springs CO

With evidence linking employee satisfaction to patient satisfaction and organizational performance, leaders can no longer ignore investing time in their staff. Unit-Based Councils are not just committees, but are specific entities that have repeatedly demonstrated profound impact on departmental culture and employee satisfaction.

Inhaled Therapies: Not Just Albuterol Anymore!

Timothy R Myers MBA RRT-NPS FAARC, Irving TX

Years ago, inhaled medication was limited to albuterol. Recently, there has been a dramatic rise in the availability of inhaled therapies for the patient with respiratory disease. This presentation will discuss the therapeutic options and review the data supporting some of these novel approaches.

Rib Plating

Sheryl Sahr MD, Des Moines IA

Flail chest is a serious complication of blunt chest trauma. Respiratory failure is often a consequence. Rib plating has been suggested to be an option for restoring the mechanical properties of the chest wall in patients with flail chest. This presentation will cover the mechanism of flail chest, the adverse sequela and advantages of rib plating.

Liberation of the Unweanable Patient: Wean the Airway or Wean the Vent?

Zachary Gantt RRT, Livingston TN

Conditions like DMD, ALS, and COPD often require tracheostomy and Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation (PMV). In the US tracheostomies are performed 7-14 days following oral intubation as a standard of care. However, changes across health care are challenging the status quo. Is tracheostomy the most clinically effective or cost efficient way to manage PMV patients? This lecture will discuss unorthodox methods of weaning tracheostomies or endotracheal tubes for what have long been deemed "unweanable patients". The speakers will present a case study of a patient living with muscular dystrophy, previously deemed unweanable and requiring endotracheal ventilation, ultimately extubated using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and mechanical cough-assist.

Case Reports in Adult Critical Care

Keith D Lamb RRT-ACCS, Des Moines IA

This presentation will discuss case reports in adult critical care. Audience response technology will be used and participants will be encouraged to take part in these exciting discussions.

AARC Program Committee Spotlight - Distance Learning in the Not-So-Distant Future

Pro: Georgianna Sergakis PhD RRT RCP, Columbus OH
Con: Crystal L Dunlevy EdD RRT RCP, Columbus OH

Is distance/online learning the wave of the future, a poor substitute for classroom instruction or something in between? This presentation will argue the pros and cons of distance education using the familiar "Point/Counterpoint" style of debate, and provide specific examples of how to incorporate techniques from both camps that will provide students with the optimal learning experience.

Are Respiratory Therapists Going To Be Relevant in the Hospital Setting in Years to Come?

Christy M McAllister RRT BHS, St Louis MO

Changes in health care due to technology, health care reform and reimbursement are forcing us to look critically how we as Respiratory Therapists can maintain a relevant position on the health care team. The presenter will discuss ways in which your staff can provide quality patient care by expanding the role of the RT to achieve expert status and a new level of value.

Protocols, Care Paths, Guidelines, and Standards in 2015

Kathleen M Deakins MSHA RRT-NPS FAARC, Cleveland OH

What are the effects of health care reform on our approach to clinical care? How will current protocols, care paths, guidelines, and standards change over time? This presentation will review the effects of the changing models of health care and the implications for everyday clinical practice.

Specialized Hemodynamic and Physiological Monitoring of the Trauma Patient

Matthew T Davis RRT, Baltimore MD

Multiple etiologies of shock are common in the trauma patient. Hypovolemia, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injury as well as direct injury to the heart make ensuring end organ and tissue perfusion a difficult challenge. This presentation will talk about the latest in monitoring the trauma patient including STO2, PbO2, and hemodynamic monitoring.

AARC Program Committee Spotlight - Outcomes in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: The Science and Best Practices

AACVPR Outpatient Program Registry: It's All about Benchmarking and Outcomes

Chris Garvey FNP MSN MPA FAACVPR, Dale City CA

The AACVPR Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Registry is designed to provide research-quality data with reporting mechanisms that programs can use to ensure continued support from Administration. The data is also critical for demonstrating your program's strong outcomes to the third-party payers and government agencies. Attend this session if you want to understand WHY the Registry is for you.

Dyspnea Measurements and Psychosocial Evaluations

Chris Garvey FNP MSN MPA FAACVPR

Knowing how to pick the best outcome tool for your program is challenging. Come to this presentation that will discuss the various types of dyspnea measurements and psychosocial evaluations that are available to help you develop and individualize your patient's pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Quality of Life, Clinical and Sleep Evaluation Tools

Connie Paladenech RRT RCP, Winston-Salem NC

It's not easy knowing which outcome tool you need. Come to this presentation and learn how to choose the optimal outcome tools for your program in the areas of quality of life, clinical and sleep.

The AACVPR Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Certification

Gerilynn L Connors RRT MAACVPR FAARC, Falls Church VA

Come to this presentation and discover why the AACVPR Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Certification is important to your program. Detailed information will be provided on the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual PR facilities for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR, AARC, ATS, ACCP and other professional societies.

Respiratory Care and the Trauma Patient

ARDS and the Trauma Victim

Joe C Hylton RRT-NPS NREMT-P FAARC, Charlotte NC

ARDS is a devastating clinical syndrome that frequently impacts trauma victims. Early recognition and treatment can significantly affect mortality, even in the transport environment. This presenter will discuss how trauma victims are uniquely susceptible to developing the syndrome. Recognition and interventions for conventional treatment of ALI/ARDS will be discussed.

Airway Management of the Trauma Victim

Brady Scott MS RRT-ACCS, Chicago IL

Trauma patients can present some of the most challenging airway scenarios. This presentation will cover intubation techniques in the spinal cord injury, severe facial trauma, and other out of the box situations.

Mechanical Ventilation and TBI: How to Ventilate the Traumatic Brain Injured Patient

Carl R Hinkson RRT FAARC, Seattle WA

Ventilating the TBI patient can be a challenge. This presentation will cover approaches to reducing intracranial pressure and how the ventilator may help or hurt in the process.

Current Topics in Tobacco Cessation

Vaping: What Is It and Is It Safe?

Ralph W Stumbo Jr RRT CPFT, Tacoma WA

One of the new trends to replace smoking in public places where smoking is generally prohibited is Vaping (or E-cigarettes). Patients are intrigued by this new product and will be asking RTs if it is safe. This lecture will examine what vaping is and discuss the literature and expert opinion around this topic.

Smoking Cessation and Reimbursement for RTs

Susan Rinaldo Gallo RRT MEd CTTS FAARC, Durham NC

Tobacco cessation includes many different components including education, medications and more. RTs can expand their scope of practice by providing smoking cessation but many are unclear as to what can and cannot be billed and reimbursed. This presentation will update attendees on the latest information on these two important issues.

Tobacco Policies in the Workplace

Susan Rinaldo Gallo RRT MEd CTTS FAARC

Over the past several years, many new policies have begun appearing in many new places including hospitals. In addition to the now popular "Smoke Free" campus policy, other policies have been appearing involving vaping (or E-cigarettes), smokeless tobacco and more. In addition, some businesses have begun testing for nicotine as part of their hiring practice. This presentation will review these policies and how they affect the RT and our patients.

The Show Must Go On! The Juggling Act of Leading Change in Today's Health Care Environment

Charity Clark RRT, Valley Center KS

Do you feel that today's health care environment resembles a circus under the big top? There may be some days that you feel like a lion tamer and other times an acrobat. This session will help you understand how individuals process change, learn how to help yourself and others let go of old ways, and reach a new beginning as we look towards the future of health care.

Palliative Care and Ethical Decisions for Resuscitating the Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant: Where Do We Stand?

Jonathan Fanaroff MD, Cleveland OH

Resuscitation of the very low birth weight infant continues to generate controversy. This presentation will review the ethical dilemmas and difficult decisions that need to be made in these touchy situations.

Engaging Students in the Community

Shawna L Strickland PhD RRT-NPS AE-C FAARC, Irving TX

Fostering volunteerism and engaging students in community events is an integral part of the respiratory therapy curriculum. However, engaging students in a meaningful way can be challenging. This presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges of engaging students in the community and provide practical strategies for providing meaningful community experiences for students.

In-flight Cardiorespiratory Emergencies: Respiratory Care above 30,000 Feet

Alex T Rotta MD FAACP FCCM, Cleveland OH

Have you ever been in a position where you were called into action for an emergency on a domestic flight? This presentation equips you with the tools to handle the unexpected.

Open Forum #13 - Case Reports

Researchers and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

Open Forum #14 - Education - Part II

Researchers and clinicians present the results on bread-and-butter issues in respiratory care. Audience and authors review the posters during the first part of the session. A brief oral presentation (no slides) and audience questions and discussion allow presenters to expand on the work featured on the poster.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from

How To Know When You Have a Diamond in the Rough: Key Factors for a Purposeful Interview

Christy M McAllister RRT BHS, St Louis MO

As a clinical leader, you are responsible for selecting the right therapist for your department. The interview process can be beneficial if you understand the clues into not only the candidate's clinical knowledge but also their personality characteristics. This presentation will discuss some best practices for resume review and interviewing styles.

Impulse Oscillometry (IOS): Another Useful Tool in the Pulmonary Function Technologists Toolkit

Dan Alamillo RRT-NPS CPFT, Oakland CA

This presentation will serve as a primer for anyone interested in learning or relearning the concepts, science and application of impulse oscillometry. We will discuss how IOS works, what pieces of data are obtained, what that data means as well as its application in the diagnosis of lung abnormalities. Finally, some of the scientific literature will be reviewed that shows IOS to be a valuable tool for the pulmonary function technologist.

COPD Readmissions... We Don't Know What We Don't Know!

Kimberly Wiles RRT CPFT, Ford City PA

An essential component of a successful COPD transition of care program is understanding risk and identifying measures that allow you to actively manage the clinical data. Key metrics need to be identified and utilized in maximizing patient outcomes and continuous performance improvement. Various metrics will be discussed along with how they have been incorporated into a successful transition of care program.

Neonatal Ventilation: Importance of Synchrony

Optimizing Synchrony for Neonatal Ventilation

Kimberly S Firestone BS RRT, Akron OH

Optimizing ventilatory support for neonatal patients can be challenging. Short inspiratory times, rapid respiratory rates, presence of variable endotracheal tube leak, and the need to safely deliver small tidal volumes impose technological challenges for synchronizing mandatory breaths with spontaneous breaths. This presentation will provide the most recent information and research on the various methods to optimize patient-ventilator synchrony.

New Modes That May Enhance Neonatal Synchrony

Robert M DiBlasi RRT-NPS FAARC, Seattle WA

Do the newer modes of ventilation have the potential to improve neonatal synchrony as compared to more traditional options? This presentation will discuss novel ventilatory modes designed to optimize neonatal synchrony. The benefits and barriers to the use of these new approaches will be discussed along with a review of the available data.

Legal Issues in Respiratory Care Profession

Legal Issues in Respiratory Care

Joseph Goss MSJ RRT-NPS AE-C, Paramus NJ

Respiratory therapists are employed in various areas and settings throughout the country. While each area and setting entails different standards of negligence and malpractice, therapists should be aware of the laws, regulations, and certain legal precedents that affect their practice.

Development of R-CITE: Respiratory Care Instructor Training and Evaluation

Joseph Goss MSJ RRT-NPS AE-C

CoARC requires education programs to implement a preceptor / instructor training program to be completed at least annually. The speaker will present his experiences with a program entitled, Respiratory Care Instructor Training and Evaluation (R-CITE) that includes basic program background information, instructor responsibilities and video demonstrations for various competency levels.

Rules of Engagement for Successful ACO/MCO Partnerships

Garry R Pezzano MS CCC-SLP, Kennett Square PA

Whether you work in small hospital, mid-size, or an 800-bed medical center, it's essential that all of us understand the impact of traditional ACOs as well as what are termed 'virtual ACOs'. Learn the key components for developing effective post-acute ACO/MCO partnerships for creating differentiating value to stakeholders, bundling payments, risk-sharing opportunities and measureable success.

Are Your Patients Getting High? The Effects of Altitude on Our Patients and the Precautions They Need to Take

Ralph W Stumbo Jr RRT CPFT, Tacoma WA

With our increasingly mobile society, patients are traveling to and living more at locations with higher altitude. We all know there are hazards to flying but soon forget that there are many places where people live and vacation that are at similar altitudes. This presentation will discuss some of these places and what precautions are prudent for patients to take.

Oximeter-Controlled O₂ Delivery: Closed Loops & Titrate to Saturate?

Robert McCoy RRT, Apple Valley MN

Long-term oxygen therapy has been a clinical challenge to insure adequate oxygenation at all activity levels. Equipment variability and patient dynamics require a constant adjustment of oxygen dose levels. Titration to adequate patient oxygen saturation has been discussed in the literature, yet the practicality of a patient constantly adjusting their oxygen is not feasible. This lecture will review the technology discussed in the literature and identify the limitations and applications of future commercially available devices with this capability.