July-August-September 2003

Editor
George Gaebler, MSEd, RRT, FAARC
Department of Respiratory Care, Rm. 516
University Hospital
750 E. Adams St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 464-4490
FAX (315) 464-4497
gaeblerg@upstate.edu

Chair

Karen Stewart, MS, RRT
Charleston Area Med. Ctr.
3200 MacCorkle Ave., SE
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 388-4367
Fax (304) 388-9633
karen.stewart@camc.org
 

As I was preparing for this edition of the Management Section Bulletin I realized that one of my colleagues here in New York had just experienced a situation that impacts managers and educators alike. Lorie Phillips' respiratory care educational program at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) was threatened - like many across the nation - with potential closure. But through a unique collaborative effort involving area hospitals and other influential decision-makers, she and her colleagues were able to avert the situation. Having been a part of the process as a member of the college's Advisory Committee, I suggested that she share the experience via an article in the Bulletin, and she graciously agreed. Her article appears below.

We all know the potential impact program closure can have on respiratory care staff in a geographic area. When a program falters due to lack of enrollment, immediate action is necessary, and it must come from everyone in the RT community - not just the educators directly involved. Indeed, earlier this year I wrote an article for the Bulletin based on my philosophical belief that the staff power problem being experienced in respiratory care is not the problem of the education community. It is the problem of every therapist in every workplace across the entire continuum of respiratory care.

As a member of the MVCC Advisory Committee, I was able to witness firsthand what can be accomplished when the community of interest comes together to consider the larger picture regarding enrollment problems in a respiratory care program. I firmly believe that had this action not taken place this program would have remained in jeopardy of being curtailed or closed at a time when, by every measure, future staffing projections for respiratory therapists are increasing.

As respiratory care managers, we all realize that most educational programs are already doing a lot to improve their enrollments. But a blitz approach such as that employed by Lorie and her colleagues can show more immediate results - thus translating to a more immediate increase in staff to fill our departments. The collaborative approaches that have come out of this situation, however, will only work if area managers help drive the message home through action with their local educational programs. For example, in Lorie's case, the use of grant funding from hospitals for radio spots advertising the profession and the program created instant interest and applicants, leading to the largest incoming fall class in recent memory.

None of this could have happened had the members of the community of interest not responded to Lorie's first call to action in June of 2002. It is this editor's opinion that the level of support she received stunned the college leadership with the real importance of the program and the profession to the community. As a manager, I foresee more graduates in the pipeline for the future, more associate degree therapist graduates for the local BS degree program, and an overall stronger respiratory care program at MVCC.[Top]

Respiratory therapists must have "spunk" to survive in our modern health care and educational environments. Educators across the nation realize respiratory care is not a high profile, widely recognized health career that attracts abundant numbers of applicants like nursing, physical therapy, and radiography. Respiratory therapists have to work harder to lure individuals into the profession. Therapists have to be "Respiratory Care Ambassadors," constantly educating the public about who we are and the valuable services we perform. Career presentations have to go beyond the usual "you can help people breathe easier" maxim. Pitches for our profession must be innovative and dazzling, emphasizing the easy availability of jobs, the national credentialing, the gender equity, and the ability to work with some really cool technology.

Enrollment problems have been plaguing many respiratory care programs for the last several years and have even forced some unfortunate program closures. All this has put respiratory programs on a heightened state of alert; any program could be the next respiratory educational program to disappear. A year ago, our program at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), in Utica, NY, was one of them. But instead of putting an end to the program, low enrollment and financial hardship created a spark that ignited some creative solutions.

The respiratory care program at MVCC is one of more than 100 degree and certificate programs at the college. Located in the center of the state between the larger metropolitan areas of Albany and Syracuse, each of which has respiratory educational programs of its own, the respiratory care program at MVCC has been in existence since 1974, with enrollment cycling up and down over the past three decades. On average, we graduate 8-13 therapists each year. In a proactive attempt to increase our enrollment, we had been following the suggestions in the AARC School Protection Kit. Chuck Svoboda, MS, RRT, clinical coordinator, Debra Waterman, MS, RRT, and myself have consistently participated in 25-30 recruitment activities per year since 1998, in recognition of the importance of student numbers to the respiratory program's very survival.

In 2002, MVCC experienced a significant financial shortfall, following national trends as the economy turned downward. Administrators began examining expensive educational programs with low enrollments as a means to responsibly address the unfavorable fiscal situation. Those of us in the respiratory care program felt especially vulnerable as planning for these cost-cutting measures at the college began to occur. Despite a 100% job placement rate for graduates pursuing employment, exemplary performance by graduates on the national exams, positive employer and graduate surveys, consistently meeting all the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Thresholds for Success, and the existence of several hospital sponsored full-tuition scholarships, the program seemed to be in jeopardy because enrollment was falling significantly below capacity, resulting in a relatively high cost to educate each student.

The MVCC respiratory care program Advisory Committee was asked to provide input aimed at solving the problem. Each of the Advisory Committee members decided to generate and solicit letters of support for the program, which would then be sent to the college administration. Within four weeks, the college president received 17 letters, including eight from hospital affiliates (including three CEOs). Other letters came from area pulmonologists, program medical directors, the chief medical officer of the area Blue Cross/Blue Shield, AARC representatives, and students. The letters stressed the importance of the respiratory program to the community, the shortage of therapists in the local area, and the number of MVCC graduates who comprise each respiratory care department in area hospitals and home care agencies.

MVCC President Michael Schafer was impressed with the written support for the program and decided to convene a respiratory care program discussion session to allow interested individuals the opportunity to problem-solve the college's dilemma of operating a program that does not generate enough revenue to cover expenses. Invitations were sent to all the support letter authors, in addition to individuals the respiratory care faculty felt could contribute to the forum.

Thirty-seven individuals attended the respiratory care program discussion, which was held in June of 2002 at the college. The meeting participants included hospital administrators; the chief medical officer of the area Blue Cross/Blue Shield office; an American Lung Association official; physicians; nurses; SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Health Related Professions faculty and dean; MVCC administrators, faculty, and alumni; hospital respiratory care department directors; home care therapists; and AARC officials. This virtual dream team of concerned professionals brainstormed solutions on how to preserve the integrity of the respiratory care program. The configuration of the group demonstrated the diverse investment of the community in the program. The dialog that occurred at this meeting was provocative, broad in scope, and generated numerous valuable suggestions. As a result of the meeting, three subcommittees were formed (marketing, recruitment, and partnership/articulation/joint admissions) to develop and implement specific action plans.

One year has passed since the MVCC discussion and much has been accomplished - not the least of which is the highest number of incoming freshman in 15 years (26 students at present).

Listed below are a few potential solutions to low enrollment in respiratory care educational programs that came out of our efforts. Used together, they can result in additional students for programs (and additional potential staff members for departments).

* Develop program materials (one-page program Infogram and bookmarks with program faculty names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and web site information).
* Develop respiratory program posters with prepaid, tear-off return postcards for program information and/or an application.
* Place program recruitment materials in hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, rehabilitative centers, libraries, career counseling centers, high school guidance offices, all over the college campus, and at highway rest stops.
* Develop a dynamic, visually appealing PowerPoint presentation highlighting your program attributes, then show it at every opportunity.
* Keep your program web site updated and visually appealing; consider including graduate testimonials and an animated graphic.
* Establish transfer, joint admission, and distance-learning agreements with centers for higher learning.
* Develop and facilitate hospital-sponsored tuition scholarships and advertise their existence.
* Obtain the necessary copying agreement and arrange to play the AARC "Life and Breath" video on hospital educational channels.
* Write letters to television network executives encouraging the use of respiratory therapists on medically-oriented shows.
* Obtain grant money for the production and implementation of a respiratory spot for radio, print, or television advertisement.
* Perform recruitment visits at every opportunity and in a variety of venues. Recruitment visits need to be interactive and memorable; show the AARC "Life and Breath" video and your program PowerPoint presentation, perform pulse oximetry or pulmonary function testing, and demonstrate ventilation of a "simulated smoker" and normal animal lungs.
* Deliver recruitment presentations to college freshman seminar classes for General Studies and Science majors.
* Market your respiratory care program as an educational stepping stone to other health career pursuits (physician, physician assistants, dentist, and veterinarian). Using community-wide discussion groups can allow for the collaboration of resources and harness tremendous energy from many different branches of the health care tree. By adopting an inclusive vision when solving problems, quality respiratory care programs can grow and prosper instead of being slashed by the budgetary knife.

For more information contact Lorie L. Phillips, MS, RRT, associate professor and coordinator of the respiratory care program, Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, NY 13501, (315) 792-5664, e-mail mailto:lphillips@mvcc.edu. Also, visit http://www.aarc.org/career/ for an updated version of the RT career website.[Top]

Respiratory therapists love their annual Respiratory Care Week, and why not? Most of us treat our staff to special events during the week aimed at showing our appreciation for all their hard work during the year. But keeping things fresh can be a bit of a challenge. In a recent posting on the section e-mail list, Dilshad Merchant, RRT, manager of the department at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, FL, presented a rather unique idea that others might want to try.

"Two years ago, we contributed 50% of the AARC membership. If a staff member gave me a check for 50%, my hospital made out a check for the balance. I thought it was a good idea, but only a few took me up on the offer (including renewals). Last year, I asked each pulmonologist to contribute one membership. I got seven and had a drawing to decide on the winners. The physicians were very supportive and did not hesitate to write checks to the AARC."

A great RC Week perk for staff - and a fantastic way to increase AARC membership at the same time! Let us know if it works for you.[Top]

The drive to improve patient safety in the nation's hospitals is moving to the top of the priority list in many facilities, and RT managers are among those being charged with ensuring the safety of their services. The American Hospital Association may be able to help. The AHA recently launched a new web site stocked with an array of resources aimed at assisting hospitals in their quest to lead the way when it comes to the safe and effective delivery of care. In addition to a wealth of material from previously published safety reports, including the groundbreaking Institutes of Medicine report that got the patient safety ball rolling in 2000, the site features specific resources on what the AHA believes are five key areas:

* Patient Centeredness
* Efficiency
* Effectiveness
* Equity
* Timeliness

To find out more visit the site at http://www.hospitalconnect.com/aha/key_issues/patient_safety/index.html. Some of the materials require an AHA username and password, but others are available to all.[Top]

When the AARC launched the Ambassador program at last year's International Respiratory Congress, the intention was to encourage existing members to recruit new members for the good of their professional organization. But the AARC believes good deeds deserve to be rewarded as well, so in addition to that nice, warm feeling you'll get as an AARC Ambassador, there are perks. As an Ambassador, you'll receive recognition in AARC Times and invitations to attend special Ambassador events at the AARC Summer Forum and International Respiratory Congress. And you'll also earn points for every new member you recruit which you can redeem for special gifts:

* Recruit a Student Member and earn 2 points.
* Recruit a 3-months-or-more lapsed Member and earn 5 points.
* Recruit a new Regular Member and earn 10 points.
* Recruit a new Plus Member and earn 15 points!

Once you earn at least 30 points, you can begin redeeming them for a variety of thank you gifts, such as a simulated leather portfolio (30 points), a portable CD player (50 points), a digital camera (200 points), or a TV/DVD combo (300 points) - just to name a few. Or turn your points in for one year of full AARC membership (100 points), one year of Plus membership (150 points), one-time registration for the Summer Forum (200 points), or one-time registration for the International Congress (300 points).[Top]

Specialty Practitioner of the Year: Submit your 2003 nominations online at http://www.aarc.org/sections/mgmt_section/mpotya/poll_form.html.

JCAHO Accreditation Report: Please consider sharing information about your most recent site visit by filling out the form on the AARC web site found at the following link: http://www.aarc.org/members_area/resources/jcaho.asp. (Check this link often for the latest postings.)

Section E-mail list: Start networking with your colleagues via the section e-mail list. Go to the section homepage at http://www.aarc.org/sections/mgmt_section/mgmt.asp and follow the directions to sign up.[Top]