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Notes
from the Chair: Section Meeting Minutes
by Catherine Foss, BS, RRT, RPFT
Section members gathered at the AARC International Respiratory
Congress in December to discuss upcoming events and concerns for 2004.
Here's a synopsis of the discussion:
Communication: The section will publish four Bulletins
this year. The BIG NEW change is that all Section Bulletins are transitioning
to an electronic format, beginning with this issue. The change came about
after a successful trial run with electronic Bulletins for two sections
last year. In terms of content, the section is seeking peer input for
article ideas and authors. If you have suggestions or are interested in
writing an article, contact me at foss0005@mc.duke.edu
or our Bulletin editor, Tom
Smalling. Our goal is to include two major articles of 500-1,500
words in each issue. Feature topics for 2004 include:
- Cardiac and Multidisciplinary
- Pulmonary Physiology/Function Adult
- Pulmonary Physiology/Function Pediatric
- Bronchoscope, Sleep Issues
- Blood gases
Networking: The AARC and section both afford members
a wealth of networking opportunities. The Association’s
web site features news,
information, and resources.
The Diagnostic section’s member-only
site - http://www.aarc.org/sections/diagnostics_section/diagnostics.asp
- offers a Diagnostics e-mail
list (free subscription for all members), and will soon be
upgraded to include more links and information. Please forward suggestions
for new links to foss0005@mc.duke.edu.
The section is also developing a Swap Shop for the site where members
can share forms and other tools, and a Resource
Directory already exists to facilitate communication between
members around the country.
ATS Pulmonary Function Lab Registry Contact Point: Members
may access this web site to begin the registry process -- http://www.thoracic.org/education/labmanual.asp.
Practitioner of the Year: The section chooses a Practitioner
of the Year based on a structured selection process. Nomination forms
are available on the Section web site.
Our 2003 winner was Charles McArthur. (For more on Charles, see the article
in this issue.)
The Diagnostic Section’s Future: Recruitment of new members
is key to the future of the section. With 1,000 members, we would earn
a seat on the AARC Board of Directors. Your colleagues who wish to sign
up can do so on the Section’s
web site.
Section Offices and Committees: The section has filled
(or needs to fill) the following positions. This is your chance to step
forward and be a part of the action! (E-mail requests to serve to foss0005@mc.duke.edu.)
- Chair-Elect: Nominations needed
- Internet Coordinators: John Wirstrom, Butch Lyles, Gail Banasiak,
Dale Mayers
- Bulletin Co-Editor: Volunteer needed
- Nominations Committee: Pauline Wukbrecht, Susan Blonshine, Rick Ballard
- Licensure Committee: Volunteers needed
- Resource Panel Committee: Vickie Ganey, Susan Blonshine
Clinical Practice Guidelines: Carl Mottram is currently
chairing this committee. Diagnostic-related CPGs now online include: Spirometry,
Cardio-pulmonary Exercise, Diffusing Capacity, Metabolic Testing, Static
Lung Volumes, Infant Testing, Body Plethysmography, Bronchoscopy, Arterial
Blood Gas Puncture, Pulse Oximetry, Arterial Blood Gas Analysis. Find
them all on the Respiratory
Care Journal site.
New Publication: The ATS and ERS will soon be publishing
combined statements on many of the pulmonary diagnostic tests. Watch the
web or journals for publication dates, or check http://www.thoracic.org.
As a result of these new statements, the AARC CPGs will need updating!
Educational Materials: Numerous educational materials
are available to the diagnostician.
- Webcasts
and online courses
through the AARC
- Individual
Independent Study Packages: Coming soon -- Static Lung
Volumes, Peak Flow, Spirometry, Diffusing Capacity, Whole Body Plethesmograph)
- ATS Function Procedure Manual: Update pending - check http://www.thoracic.org,
(212) 315-8700. To order, contact Marilyn
Bucello.
- ATS Six Minute Walk Statement. 2002
- ATS/ACCP Statement: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (A new corrected
version was published in 2003)
- ATS/ERS Statement on Respiratory Muscle Testing, 2002
- Alpha-1 ATD Educational Brochure: Pulmonary Function Testing. Thirty
cents each if ordering more than 10 brochures. Available in English
and Spanish. http://alpha1.org/market1.htm,
1-800-521-3025.
- Uniform Reporting Manual Update for Diagnostics: Available for purchase
at the AARC
Store.
Other Issues Discussed at the Meeting: Research and
outcomes studies, abstracts for the 2004 Congress, government issues,
Ambulatory Procedure Categories, PPS changes enacted in 2003, CDC committee
updates, physician supervision rules, the upcoming Interpretive Guidelines
to the Final CLIA Rule, JCAHO's request for our participation in a field
review of revised Waived Testing standards for patient care settings outside
of central laboratories and related comments issued by the AARC, the new
code for exhaled CO and other codes we need to request (such as MIP, MEP,
Exhaled NO, etc.).
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Specialty
Practitioner of the Year:
Charles McArthur, RRT, RPFT
Charles McArthur, RRT, RPFT, cardiopulmonary specialist at Immanuel/St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, MN, has been honored as the AARC's
2003 Diagnostics Section Specialty Practitioner of the Year.
The award, which was presented at the AARC’s 49th International
Respiratory Congress in Las Vegas, NV, is bestowed annually on a section
member who best exemplifies qualities and characteristics of excellence
in cardiopulmonary diagnostics.
Charles was recognized for his dedication to bringing state-of-the-art
diagnostic services to patients at Immanuel/St. Joseph’s. In
addition to establishing a quality program for the performance and
interpretation of pulmonary function tests at the hospital, he was
instrumental in setting up a multidisciplinary cardiopulmonary stress
test program.
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NCCLS
Representative: 2003 Diagnostic Section Report
by Susan Blonshine, BS, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, AE-C
Carl Mottram, vice chair of the NCCLS Healthcare Science Committee,
and I attended the CDC Quality Institute Conference in April of 2003.
The conference was intended to establish a new entity (the Quality Institute)
to address error rates as reported by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Several committees have been formed subsequent to the conference. The
NCCLS is an active participant in this process. A 2004 Fall Conference
to continue development of the Quality Institute is projected.
The NCCLS Leadership Meeting was held in March 2003 in Washington, DC.
Carl attended the Area Committee on Health Care Services. I attended the
ISO TC 212 TAG meeting and presented comments concerning ISO/CD 22870,
Point-of-care testing requirements for quality and competence. This document
will continue to undergo revisions in ISO Working Group 1. Dr. Joe Boone
represents the United States on this working group and is supportive of
all comments entered on behalf of the AARC.
NCCLS continues to develop partnerships and an increased global perspective.
The strategic plan for NCCLS includes a broader scope of standards development
in medical testing. The NCCLS strategic plan is available at http://www.nccls.org.
Other NCCLS news includes:
- A task force for resource limited laboratories is addressing issues
and document needs globally. The AARC International Committee may need
to develop an enhanced understanding of medical testing needs globally
and their impact on respiratory care.
- ISO 15189-Medical Laboratories: requirements for quality and competence,
has been approved as an international standard. Implementation of this
standard in medical testing is occurring globally.
- The 2004 NCCLS Leadership meeting is scheduled for March 17-21 in
Washington, DC, with the theme, “Implementing Global and Harmonized
Standards.” The program will also include education regarding
mentoring of volunteers and metrological traceability.
- NCCLS is proposing a name change to reflect their global standing
and broader scope of standards development in medical testing. Input
regarding the name has been requested from member organizations.
- An update of H11-A4, Collection of arterial specimens, is expected
in the second quarter of 2004. Steve Sittig, RRT-NPS, has been a valuable
member of this working group.
- George Gaebler, RRT, was nominated to the Area Committee on Point-of-Care
Testing. The new area committee funding is progressing well, with a
projected start date in 2004.
- Karen Stewart, RRT, was nominated to the Subcommittee on Hazards
and Recalls. Further market assessment will occur prior to final formation
of the subcommittee.
- The NCCLS monthly communication for members and volunteers will be
consolidated into a single electronic communication, improving the ability
to transfer appropriate information to our association in a timelier
format.
- NCCLS continues to increase partnerships in the global standards
industry. NCCLS has applied for re-designation as a WHO Collaborating
Centre through PAHO.
In addition, the following documents have been approved for publication
by the NCCLS Board of Directors:
- HS1-A2 - A Quality System Model for Health Care; Approved Guideline
provides the necessary background information and infrastructure to
develop a quality system that will meet healthcare quality objectives
and be consistent with the quality objectives of each institution. This
guideline provides a structure for a comprehensive, systematic approach
to build quality into the health care service's processes, assess the
service’s performance, and implement quality improvements.
- HS4-A - Application of a Quality System Model to Respiratory Services;
Approved Guideline provides the necessary background information and
infrastructure to develop a quality system that will meet health care
quality objectives and be consistent with the quality objectives of
each institution. This guideline provides a structure for a comprehensive,
systematic approach to build quality into the respiratory service’s
processes, assess its performance, and implement quality improvements.
Individual service areas, such as respiratory therapeutics, pulmonary
diagnostics, or sleep diagnostics can apply this model to their respective
operations. To provide a practical example of how a quality system is
developed and implemented for respiratory services, suggestions for
the pulmonary diagnostic laboratory and respiratory therapeutics are
included.
- GP26-A2 - Application of the Quality System to the Clinical Laboratory:
Second Edition.
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News
from the National Lung Health
Education Program
by Gretchen Lawrence, RRT, NLHEP liaison to the AARC
If you read your October
issue of AARC Times (or attended the AARC International
Respiratory Congress in December), you know that Dr.
Tom Petty , co-chair of the National Lung Health Education
Program (NLHEP), received the 2003 Jimmy A. Young Medal - the highest
honor in our profession! That's the good news. The bad news is that
Dr. Petty is stepping down from his role at NLHEP. However, the organization
will continue to grow under the able leadership of Dr. Dennis Doherty,
who has co-chaired NLHEP with Dr. Petty for the past three years. Dr.
Petty will also remain in the picture as chair emeritus.
The NLHEP also continues to provide excellent resources for RTs. Many
are available only by download from the web
site . But there are four booklets in print — and AARC
members can order up to 200 of any or all of these at no cost from the
NLHEP. Go to the web site for more information on how to order. Here
are the titles, with the latest booklet listed first:
- “Simple Office Spirometry for the Primary Care Physician,” by Dr.
Tom Petty and Dr. Paul Enright. This booklet is designed for you to
share with PCPs who are interestrd in providing simple spirometry
in their offices.
- “Save Your Breath America,” by Drs. Petty and Doherty. This booklet
is for patients, so share it with COPD patients in the hospital, pulmonary
rehab, and patient support groups.
- “Prevent Emphysema Now,” by Drs. Petty and Doherty. This booklet
is for professionals, so share it with your fellow RTs, physicians,
and others on your interdisciplinary team, like PT, OT, and social
work.
- “Early Recognition and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease,” by Drs. Doherty and Petty, and Dr. Jim Seabass. This is
another booklet for professionals that expands on information provided
in “Prevent Emphysema Now.”
Be sure to check the NLHEP
web site for a complete listing of all educational materials,
including those available from other sources.
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Section
Connection
Specialty Practitioner of the Year: Submit your 2004
nominations online.
JCAHO Accreditation Report: Please consider sharing information about
your most recent site visit by filling out the form
on the AARC web site.
Recruit a new member: Know an AARC member who could benefit from section
membership? Direct them to: https://secure.aarc.org/sections/
- It’s the easiest way to add section membership to their overall
membership package.
Section E-mail list: Start networking with your colleagues via the section
e-mail list, and follow the directions to sign up
Bulletin Deadlines: Winter Issue: December 10; Spring Issue: March 10;
Summer Issue: June 10; Fall Issue: September 10.
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