Renewing, New Members Walk Away with Prizes

May 15, 2014

The membership drive we launched last year is back in full swing, and now we have our first two winners in our quarterly drawing for some cool electronics.

Renewing member Laura Matheson, BS, RRT, is loving her new iPad, while new member Terri Allen, RRT, is getting acquainted with her brand new Kindle Fire.

CEUs made easy

A 34-year veteran of the profession, Matheson is an RT at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she works on the Scottish Rite campus in the general care areas and ICU. “I wanted to work in the medical field since I was a young child,” says the therapist. “Respiratory care has been challenging, rewarding, and has offered me job security.”

Matheson says her department strongly encourages staff to support the AARC, and she’s been happy to oblige over the years with her own membership. “It’s an easy way to collect the continuing education credits required by the state of Georgia,” she continues.

Her message to fellow therapists who have yet to become members of the AARC? “Join now. It’s a good thing to have solid representation in our profession. It’s great to know somebody’s got your back.”

Recognition needed

Allen, who has been an AARC member off and on during her 18-year career, says the AARC’s ability to advocate for the profession played a big role in her decision to rejoin. “I believe that our profession does not get the national attention or credit it deserves,” says the regional clinical director at Sound Oxygen Service in Bellingham, WA.

“I want to see changes made in Congress that will help support further education, enhancing our degrees to become independent practitioners like nursing, and employ insurance companies to recognize us for the work we do by providing reimbursement for our services.”

Since becoming a member Allen says she’s been enjoying the online editions of RESPIRATORY CAREand AARC Times and is using these resources for CEUs, educational materials for her patients and referral sources, and to remain up to date on the latest innovations in respiratory care.

Get in the running

We’ll be awarding an iPad and Kindle Fire to returning and new members in each quarter of this year, so make sure you get those renewal notices in on time and recruit nonmembers in your area to join!