Melinda J. Gaylor, BSEd, RRT
Director, Training and Education
Advanced Lifeline Services, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky

Biography

Nominee Questions

Biography
AARC member since 1989. Director Training and Accreditation, Advanced Lifeline Services, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky. AARC: Chair, Subacute Care Section, 2003; Member, Subacute Care Section, 2002. RELATED ORGANIZATIONS: Member, Louisville Society of Human Resource Management, 2000-Present; American Society of Training and Development; Instructor, Certified Basic Life Support, American Heart Association; Team Leader, American Heart Association, 1999-Present. EDUCATION: University of Louisville, Jefferson Community College, Associate of Health Science, Respiratory Therapy, 1990; Bachelor of Science in Health Occupations Education, 1992.

1. If the AARC was your company, and you had free reign to make changes, with unlimited resources, what would you do?
I would create more web-based training to provide CEUs for respiratory therapists. CEUs are a big part of the reason for supporting the AARC by members. Web based training is a new method of facilitation training. This would serve as a great membership retention tool as well as lead to the development of members.

In addition to web-based training, I would have the state societies meet with local high schools as a requirement to maintain as a chapter. The enrollment of college programs is drastically shrinking. To gain student enrollees, we are going to have to go out and get them. Awareness = student respiratory therapists=memberships.

Lobby more for improved government regulations to include respiratory therapy services in payor reimbursement. It is particularly an issue for long term care therapists who fall under the routine nursing services reimbursement. Why isn't "minutes of therapy" under MDS section P reimbursed or counted toward a higher rate of reimbursement?

2. What is the most significant challenge facing the respiratory care profession in the next three years? How do you feel the AARC should respond to this challenge?
The biggest challenge I see is the availability of therapists in the future. Demographically, the persons available for the workforce, 18-24, are shrinking and will not meet the needs of school programs or patient needs.

Recruitment is going to be the biggest challenge to fill respiratory therapy programs. Without new students to feed the field, the respiratory therapy workforce will definitely be impacted.

AARC needs to proactively use recruitment strategies to gain student attention of respiratory therapy being their profession.

3. How can the AARC become more attractive to younger (newer) respiratory therapists?
I recommend offering a free initial membership upon graduation. What a reward! In addition to that, offer more scholarships and visit schools that graduate a significant number of graduates. Give out excellence awards to programs. Develop recognition programs for school programs.