56th AARC International Respiratory Congress

Sunday, December 5

Welcome to the Largest Respiratory Care Meeting in the World

by Michael A. Gentile, RRT, FAARC, Program Committee Chair

Welcome to the 56th Annual AARC International Respiratory Congress. On behalf of AARC President Timothy Myers, BS, RRT-NPS, and the Board of Directors, I am pleased to report that we will have another great meeting for you here in Las Vegas, with presentations and programs suggested by you, the AARC Specialty Sections, and the Program Committee.

This year’s Gold Standard meeting in respiratory care features everything you need to support your organizations as they strive to achieve cost-effective delivery of high quality care in this era of health care reform. Only at the AARC International Congress will you:

• Learn the latest news and initiatives resulting from the Affordable Care Act and how they may affect your employers, your patients, and your clinical practice.
• Get an up close and personal look at the hottest advances in patient care and technology in an Exhibit Hall filled with all the manufacturers in the industry.
• Hear the results of original research presented by your peers in 17 OPEN FORUMS spread over the four days of the Congress.
• Receive all the CRCE credit you need to maintain your state license.
• Participate in programs aimed at all areas of the profession: adult critical care, neonatal/pediatric care, home care, continuing care/rehabilitation, diagnostics, transport, management, education, sleep, and long-term care.

Please take a few moments to read through the Program and we think you’ll agree: The investment you’re making in the AARC Congress this week in Las Vegas will pay off many times over in the form of new strategies and innovations you can put to work in your facilities when you get back home, plus a renewed spirit of professional pride that will last into the new year and beyond. Have a great meeting!

Opening Session to Feature Awards Ceremony, Keynote Address

The AARC, ARCF, NBRC, and CoARC will recognize top performers in our profession tomorrow morning during an Awards Ceremony that will kick off at 8:30 and conclude with the presentation of our profession’s highest honor, the Jimmy A. Young Medal—awarded each year to an individual who has exceeded all expectations for meritorious contributions to the advancement of the respiratory care profession and to the AARC. This year’s honoree is long-time RC educator Margaret “Peg” Traband, MEd, RRT, FAARC. (Read more about Peg Traband in tomorrow’s Online Gazette or in your October issue of AARC Times.)

Following the Awards Ceremony, attendees will hear a keynote address by Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Opening Session is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Tri-anim.

Added Attractions in this Year’s Exhibit Hall

The Exhibit Hall is always a big draw at the Congress, and this year will be no different, as manufacturers throughout the industry show off their latest and greatest products. Since it’s also a Buying Show, attendees will get the chance to reap significant savings for their organizations by making deals right on the Exhibit Hall floor too, and they’ll be able to learn more about the latest products and services in the RC Solutions Showcase, a dedicated space where exhibitors will be conducting free 30-minute presentations, with time budgeted for questions from the audience.

2011 AARC Corporate Partners Announced

The AARC is proud to include the following companies in our Corporate Partner Program this coming year: CareFusion, Masimo, Covidien, Monaghan, Philips, Dräger, GE Healthcare, Maquet, Ikaria, Kimberly-Clark, and Tri-anim.

All of these companies comprise best-in-class organizations interested in supporting the goals and work of the Association. The program provides respiratory care providers with information, insights, and innovative approaches to improve performance and advance the health of their patients.

Make the Most of Your Congress Attendance

The next four days will be packed with more information on respiratory care than any one person could possibly digest. How can you make sure you go home with the clinical and managerial knowledge you need to help your organization succeed and boost your own career potential? Consider these tips:

• Budget time after sessions to visit with lecturers and ask questions — all the lecturers at this meeting (even the biggest names here) will be available after their talks to speak directly with attendees.
• Network with your colleagues to learn more about what they’re doing at their facilities and explore job opportunities around the country.
• Collect business cards of the folks you meet and jot down notes on the back of the cards to remember who’s who and why they may be important to your future.
• Use the Congress to explore new career paths. All of the Specialty Sections and many of the Roundtables are hosting meetings, and everyone (not just current members) is invited to attend.
• Set aside time each day to visit the Exhibit Hall and make a list of the vendors you want to see during each excursion. Remember, the Hall is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so you don’t have to see it all at once.
• Ask vendors to share the scientific proof behind their new technologies and inquire about opportunities to conduct joint research projects.
• Take advantage of vendor-sponsored events and be sure to request follow-up calls or visits from vendors once you get back home.

IERS Recognition for the Congress

The 2010 AARC International Respiratory Congress has been accredited by the International Education Recognition System and the Continuing Respiratory Care Education System.

“The International Council for Respiratory Care, representing 29 nations, developed the International Education Recognition System (IERS) to attest to the quality of program faculty and content for respiratory care seminars around the world. It is fitting that the AARC 56th International Congress, the largest RC meeting in the world, exceeds the IERS guidelines and has achieved full approval,” says Jerome Sullivan, PhD, RRT, FAARC.

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