Sunday, November 6

8:30 am – 9:20 am

AARC Annual Business Meeting

Karen J Stewart MS RRT FAARC/Presiding

The official Annual Business Meeting of your professional association. The 2012 AARC Officers, Board of Directors and House of Delegates officers are installed. Reports from the AARC leadership are presented. The meeting concludes with the address of 2011/2012 President, Karen J Stewart MS RRT FAARC.

9:30 am – 10:20 am

38th Donald F Egan Scientific Memorial Lecture

This lecture provides an overview of in-depth information about dynamic aspects of pulmonary physiology, pulmonary medicine, or clinical respiratory care. The lectureship is extended to a recognized world-class participant in the area of interest––investigator, clinician or academician.

Jay Johannigman

Forged in the Fires of Battle: Advances in Medicine

Jay Johannigman MD, Cincinnati OH

The military conflict of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) has advanced the care of the injured patient. This is particularly true for the process of en-route care. Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom were the first to employ the widespread use of critical care transport teams and en-route care early during the casualty evacuation process. Practice guidelines, standards of care, and clinical management algorithms have all been significantly revised in light of many lessons learned during the GWOT. Dr. Johannigman will review the most significant changes in casualty care as well as highlight the current operational standards and innovations forwarded by the U.S. Air Force's Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams (CCATT).

8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sputum Bowl Preliminaries

Deborah J Hendrickson RRT/Presiding

Teams from the AARC State Societies compete in the preliminary competitions. The top four teams will advance to the Finals on Monday evening, Nov 7, along with the Student Sputum Bowl finalists.

Proudly supported by

10:30 am – 11:00 am

High-Flow Oxygen: Marketing Ploy or Effective Treatment for Hypoxemia?

Kenneth Miller MEd RRT-NPS, Allentown PA

Hospitals all over the country are using heated high-flow nasal cannulas for the treatment of hypoxemia and some use it as a device to deliver continuous positive airway pressure. Are these valid uses for this device? What are the indications and does the device work? This presentation will define the clinical indications and selection of patient population for high-flow oxygen. A review of the most current literature will be discussed as well as some clinical outcomes and case studies of patients who have successfully used heated high-flow nasal cannulas.

Sponsored by

10:30 am – 11:15 am

Disease Management: A Creative Solution for Outpatient Education

Janet Lee RRT AE-C, Indianapolis IN

Health care reform is a driving force in encouraging health care professionals to find more cost-effective ways to manage patients with chronic pulmonary disease, and respiratory therapists are uniquely qualified to provide disease management to COPD and asthmatic patients. One organization is proactively providing these services to patients during visits to their primary care provider. The speaker will outline how her program helps the physician expedite patient care and empowers the therapist to use standing orders and protocols to efficiently treat patients at the time of their primary care visit.

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Professor’s Rounds: Improving Patient Safety

Professor: Charles G Durbin Jr MD FAARC, Charlottesville VA
Presenter: Lori D Conklin MD, Charlottesville VA

“Patient safety” is no longer just a hot buzz word that floats around the hospital—it’s a culture and a way of life. The importance of it is obvious for patients and their families, but it also affects reimbursement and the hospital’s bottom line. The presentation is a case-based approach on how to develop strategies and implement systems to improve patient care and safety. Preoperative screening, medical risks, intraoperative management, and postoperative care will be discussed, a must-see presentation for clinicians and managers alike.

10:30 am – 11:35 am

Point of Care Lab Measurements: It’s Not Just About Blood Gases

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Hemoglobin Alphabet Soup

Bill J Malley MS RRT CPFT FAARC, Pittsburgh PA

The importance and unique structure of the amazing normal adult hemoglobin molecule will be explored. The chemical properties responsible for its multiple and magnificent functions will be reviewed. The fetal hemoglobin molecule will then be differentiated from normal adult hemoglobin as it pertains to placental gas exchange. This will be followed by a review of the pathology and clinical significance of more common abnormal hemoglobin species. Sickle cell hemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin will be discussed in reference to their properties, clinical consequences, and treatment.

11:05 am – 11:35 am

The Unending Search for the Holy Grail Marker of Hypoxia

Bill J Malley MS RRT CPFT FAARC

Tissue hypoxia has long been considered the ultimate cause of death of the organism. Throughout the past 30 years, clinicians have attempted to describe key hypoxic markers that could help identify disease severity, guide therapy, and potentially increase survival. Arterial and venous markers of oxygenation and oxygen delivery have been introduced and utilized with promise and later found to have significant limitations. More recently chemical markers such as lactate have been more widely used. This presentation will look at the evolution of these markers as well as the current evidence and general state of practice. Limitations on the use of any single marker will be emphasized.

10:30 am – 11:50 am

Neonatal-Pediatric Clinical Cases

Ira M Cheifetz MD FCCM, Durham NC and
Timothy R Myers RRT-NPS, Avon OH

Ever wonder how your diagnostic and management styles and decisions compare with those of your peers? In this interactive audience response session, interesting neonatal and pediatric cases will be presented from the physician and respiratory therapist perspectives. Come to learn and share your opinions with the presenters and your colleagues.

10:30 am – 11:55 am

Pulmonary Function Studies: There’re Not Just for Adults Anymore

10:30 am – 11:10 am

Infant Pulmonary Function Test in the 21st Century

Karen McDowell MD, Cincinnati OH

Is it a realistic expectation to perform pulmonary function tests on infants? If so, how accurate is the data? This lecture will cover the technical components of performing pulmonary function testing on infants (obtaining the correct testing position of the infant, and gathering of the data) and describe the interpretation of resulting data. Attend this presentation and add an additional specialty service into your arsenal of revenue-generating procedures.

11:15 am – 11:55 am

Diagnostic Testing and the Pediatric Patient

Michael Tracy RRT-NPS RPFT, Cleveland OH

This presentation includes information on why testing a pediatric patient is different from testing adult patients and the rationale in utilizing validated predicted data sets specific to children. The speaker will highlight advances in PF software that incentivize pediatric patients to deliver reproducible results. Tips and tricks will also be discussed that maximize results and minimize your frustration.

10:30 am – 11:55 am

Rewiring Respiratory Care Education: eLearning for the Respiratory Therapist

10:30 am – 11:10 am

Using WiFi in Clinical Competency—the iPad Experiment

Douglas E Masini EdD RRT-NPS RPFT AE-C FAARC, Savannah GA

This presentation will compare WiFi clinical documentation (using the iPad) to traditional paper and pencil documentation. Presenter will list the benefits and problems encountered by clinical WiFi users, especially when using the iPad in clinicals. This presentation will conclude by identifying critical issues that will make the WiFi/iPad launch successful in your education program.

11:15 am – 11:55 am

Using iTunes and Vimeo To Produce Raw Streaming Video in Your Online Course Management Systems (CMS)

Douglas E Masini EdD RRT-NPS RPFT AE-C FAARC

This presentation will list how-to’s and options when using iPod Nano mp4 or .mov files to create video streams in your course-management system. Presenter will identify the pitfalls encountered when creating and using raw extemporaneous lectures in your course-management system or iTunes. Additionally, attendees will learn how a repository such as Vimeo can store files and provide a source code for easy student access. Finally, the presenter will discuss student learning style preferences, monitoring feedback on iTunes, and audio/video lecture impact on teaching and learning respiratory therapy.

10:30 am – 12:00 noon

Respiratory Home Care Successes

10:30 am – 10:55 am

Creating Standards of Care Through Home Respiratory Care Standing Orders

Nicholas Macmillan AGS RRT FAARC, Stevensville MD

Respiratory Care Practitioners are inventors by training. As such, our DNA lends us to gut decisions, hunches, and “jerry-rigged” set-ups. Evidence-based practice has taught us otherwise, and while hospitals’ respiratory departments have been leaders in respiratory care standards of care and protocols, home medical equipment providers have struggled to find similar situations. By attending this lecture, the attendee will understand the importance of standing orders, and utilization of protocols in the home environment for patients of similar disease states and conditions. Attend this lecture and learn more about the role fo the RT to implement these “tried and true” ways of caring for patients in the home.

11:00 am – 11:25 am

Oxygen Use in Stable CHF: An Important Treatment Option

Joseph S Lewarski RRT FAARC, North Ridgeville OH

This presentation will review nocturnal hypoxemia and the role of low-flow oxygen therapy in management and treatment of Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR) in stable CHF patients with no daytime hypoxemia. Attendees will learn how to identify high-risk patients; recognize oxygen therapy as a treatment option and understand the benefits of low-flow oxygen therapy with this patient population.

11:30 am – 12:00 noon

Doing More with Less: Protocols for Home Care Visits

Nicholas Macmillan AGS RRT FAARC

In a perfect world, home respiratory patients would receive regular visits by qualified clinicians. However, as reimbursement pressures grow, respiratory patients are lucky to receive a visit at all. This presentation will provide an example of how a protocol can be used to prioritize home visits when faced with competing priorities of multiple patients.

11:05 am – 12:00 noon

Arterial/Access Lines: Insertion, Monitoring and Maintenance

Amy Bardin MS RRT VA-BC, Phoenix AZ

This lecture will review current access management delivery models to include the role of the respiratory therapist. Current practices include arterial and intravenous large and small bore access. Advancements in the use of ultrasound with access management and patient outcomes related to the collaborative work between traditional models and models using respiratory care teams will be discussed. Can RTs perform access management procedures as good as or better than their physician and nursing counterparts? Attend this presentation to find out?

11:20 am – 11:50 am

The Respiratory Therapist Perspective in an ALS Clinic

De De Gardner MSHP RRT FAARC, San Antonio TX

This presentation will describe the role of the respiratory therapist in and ALS clinic. As the respiratory therapist involved in this clinic, it is imperative that RTs realize that there are differences in caring for patients with ALS. The speaker will describe the tests used to determine the progress of the ALS patient and the therapies needed to effectively treat these patients.

11:35 am – 12:15 pm

The Role of Respiratory Therapy in an IMCF-MR

Roberta Edwardson LRCP CRTT CCVT, Beatrice NE

The respiratory therapist plays an important role in providing care required of individuals living in an IMCF. The skills and knowledge that a therapist can provide to PNM (Physical Nutrional Management) teams in preventing and treating aspiration pneumonia is invaluable. This presentation will review the role of the respiratory therapist working with spine and gait teams to assist individuals with kyphosis, neuromuscular disorders, etc in managing their respiratory needs. Presenter will also discuss how RTs can screen individuals for sleep disorders prior to referral to pulmonologist.

1:00 pm – 1:35 pm

Interpreting Chest X-Rays: Don’t Let That Gray Lead You Astray!

Garry W Kauffman MPA FACHE RRT FAARC, Elizabethtown PA

This presentation is designed for two audiences: 1) The recent RT graduate who most likely received training in CXR interpretation and utilization and 2) “Seasoned RTs” like the presenter who learned about chest x-rays on the job through osmosis rather than in the classroom. The presentation will provide an overview of the traditional x-ray techniques and projections that the RT routinely encounters in her/his daily work. After this overview, the audience will engage in an interactive case-review format with unknown chest x-rays to illustrate the uses of the various techniques and projections and have a little fun in the process.

1:00 pm – 1:50 pm

Mechanical Ventilation: Should Clinicians Apply Adult Data to Children?

Ira M Cheifetz MD FCCM, Durham NC

Randomized, controlled trials are readily available to assist clinicians in managing mechanically ventilated adults. However, similar data are scarce in the world of pediatrics. This presentation will discuss the applicability of the available adult data to infants and children as well as describe the inherent problems of obtaining definitive pediatric data.

1:00 pm – 2:40 pm

Transtracheal Oxygen Therapy (TTOT): What Have We Learned Over the Past 25 Years?

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

TTOT: Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We Are Headed

Kent Christopher MD RRT FAARC, Denver CO

This presentation will review the historical development of TTOT, up to and including the current transtracheal program of care using the fast tract technique. Emphasis will be placed on proper patient selection for this minimally invasive approach to providing continuous long-term oxygen therapy.

1:35 pm – 2:05 pm

The TTOT Medical Director: Is TTOT the Best Kept Secret in Pulmonary Medicine?

Michael Schwartz MD, Denver CO

This presentation will describe the barriers that influence pulmonologists in the prescription of TTOT for their oxygen-dependent patients. After 25 years of exposure in the medical literature, the presenter will discuss realities of why this therapy is not more widely used as well as the perceptions of both physicians and patients alike.

2:10 pm – 2:40 pm

You’ve Heard from the Experts—Now What About the Patient?

Nick Jones, The Villages FL

This presentation will enable attendees to hear a first-hand perspective from a seasoned TTOT patient. The patient will describe the impact that different oxygen delivery devices have had on themselves and other family members, before and after TTOT. What better place to get all the information you need regarding TTOT than directly from the people that it impacts the most?

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Disaster Responses: How Can the Respiratory Therapist Help?

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Ventilators for MCRF—New Devices and Findings

Chris Blakeman MSc RRT, Cincinnati OH

We hear of disasters and mass casualty every day. From the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti, to the tsunami in Indonesia, to Hurricane Katrina, and most recently the tornadoes that ripped through Alabama. Today it’s someone else, tomorrow it could be you. Are you ready? This presentation will discuss advancements in equipment designed for mass casualty care and will review the literature regarding evaluations of these devices. The presenter will also review recent research on portable ventilators and review requirements of MCRF ventilators.

1:35 pm – 2:05 pm

Air Transport Following MCRF—Complexity and Capability

CMSgt Dario Rodriquez RRT, Cincinnati OH

It’s unlikely that patients involved in a mass casualty respiratory failure incident will be transported to emergency medical facilities by ground. This presentation will discuss the use of aeromedical transport to move patients from a MCRF incident to other care sites. Presenter will review capabilities and challenges in aeromedical transport in a mass casualty situation to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable patients.

2:10 pm – 3:00 pm

Respiratory Therapists and Mass Casualty Care: Getting Involved

CDR Lewis Rubinson MD PhD FCCP (USPHS), Deputy Chief Medical Officer, National Disaster Medical System, HHS/ASPR/OPEO, Washington DC

It’s a natural instinct for RTs to serve the public whether it’s through community screenings or responding to disaster. Following a mass casualty event, how many times have you sensed the desire to get involved and be able to serve your fellow man? This presentation will review the needs of HHS regarding mass casualty respiratory failure and explain new ways for the RT to get involved. What are the responsibilities of the respiratory therapist serving in these roles? Attend this presentation to find out.

1:00 pm – 3:10 pm

Pulmonary Rehabilitation and The Impact on the Co-Morbid Patient

1:00 pm – 1:40 pm

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Joy E Hargett RRT, Houston TX

The speaker will present current information about the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in the COPD patient. Discussion will detail how proper diagnosis and treatment of OSA can facilitate more effective pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD patients. While CPAP and NIV therapy are effective treatments for OSA, is there an indirect benefit for the lung function of the COPD patient in pulmonary rehab? Attend this lecture to find out.

1:45 pm – 2:25 pm

Heart Disease in the Pulmonary Patient

Neil R MacIntyre MD FAARC, Durham NC

It’s rare that a patient enrolled into a pulmonary rehabilitation program suffers only from COPD. This presentation will examine the challenges faced by clinicians attempting to provide pulmonary rehabilitation to patients with COPD and heart disease. The discussion will detail how chronic heart failure can affect exercise training in chronic pulmonary patients, and what the RT can do to improve the situation.

2:30 pm – 3:10 pm

Lung Cancer in the Patient with Chronic Lung Disease

Bill Cohagen RRT FAARC, Phoenix AZ

The speaker will present current information about the diagnosis and recommended treatments for COPD patients with lung cancer. Is it a death sentence or a treatable condition that can improve the quality of life for the patient? Attendees will gain a greater understanding of how pulmonary function changes with surgical and/or radiation treatment and what RTs can do to address these changes during pulmonary rehab.

1:00 pm – 3:40 pm

Integration of Technology

1:00 pm – 1:50 pm

Assessing and Justifying the Need for New Technology

Cheryl A Hoerr MBA RRT CPFT FAARC, Rolla MO

This presentation will identify the role of the RT manager as they approach the assessment phase for new technology with respect to cost versus benefit. Attendees will learn what information to consider, what information to discard, and what information and key metrics should be used when justifying the equipment purchase to executives in the C-suite.

1:55 pm – 2:45 pm

Planning, Organizing, Staffing, and Controlling a Clinical Evaluation

Bill Lamb RRT CPFT FAARC, Wentzville MO

Has your capital budget been approved for the purchase of a new ventilator fleet? Are you considering a transition from one product to another? If so, then you can’t miss this presentation in which the presenter will review the mechanics of conducting a successful clinical evaluation. Included in the presentation are strategies to prepare staff, establish how to set reasonable expectations for staff and suppliers, and utilize of assessment tools to objectively assess the technology and measure the outcome evaluation.

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm

Utilizing Clinical Specialist to Enhance Continuing Education & Staff

Ronda Bradley MS RRT, St Louis MO

How many times have you purchased new equipment or invested in new technology, and spent hundreds of hours in staff training only to hear complaints that there was inadequate education on the new product? This presentation will discuss how RT departments can utilize supplier/industry-based and department-based clinical specialists for the implementation of new technology. Ensure the proper competence of your staff by attending this presentation today!

1:00 pm – 3:55 pm

CoARC Workshop for New Program Personnel

1:00 pm – 1:40 pm

Don’t Sleep on It! Does Your Polysomnography Program Meet Current Standards?

Thomas R Smalling PhD RRT RPFT RPSGT FAARC, Bedford TX

Attendees will be provided with an overview of the new accreditation standards and its implications for programs offering the polysomnography program option. The presenter will focus on recent changes in accreditation of polysomnography programs and the strategies for implementing programmatic changes to address compliance with the new standards.

1:45 pm – 2:25 pm

What Every New Director of Clinical Education Needs to Know

Kathy Rye EdD RRT FAARC, Little Rock AR

The presenter will cover issues relevant to the role and responsibilities of this key position within a respiratory therapy program. The speaker will discuss the job responsibilities of the DCE, the relationships they must build with local hospitals, evaluation skills required, and future planning they must account for as it relates to changes in curriculum. The DCE’s responsibilities in the program re-accreditation process will also be discussed.

2:30 pm – 3:10 pm

Every New Program Director Needs to Know

Thomas Hill PhD RRT FAARC, Athens GA

The presenter will cover issues relevant to the role and responsibilities of this key personnel position with emphasis placed on accreditation requirements. The speaker will discuss the job responsibilities of the PD, all aspects of the program; including the management, administration, continuous review and analysis, planning, development and general effectiveness of the program. The PD’s responsibilities in the program re-accreditation process will also be discussed.

3:15 pm – 3:55 pm

Methods for Improving Survey Return Rates and Result Reporting

Stephen P Mikles EdS RRT FAARC, Pinellas Park FL

The presenter will discuss methods for improving the return rates of the CoARC Graduate and Employer Surveys as well reporting of the results in the CoARC Report of Current Status. The presenter will also review methods for maintaining survey records and completing the survey worksheet section of the CoARC Report of Current Status Report. This presentation will be interactive with members of the audience sharing methods that have improved their survey return rates.

1:00 pm – 4:25 pm

New Horizons Symposium: The Ventilator Liberation Process; a Fresh Look at the Evidence

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

The Role of Weaning Parameters in the Ventilator Discontinuation Process

Neil R MacIntyre MD FAARC, Durham NC

This presentation will review the weaning parameters that have been proposed over the years. What is the most current evidence to support these parameters? Should every patient be assessed with the rapid-shallow breathing index? The presenter will discuss when, if ever, weaning parameters should be used, and if so which ones.

1:35 pm – 2:05 pm

The Role of Noninvasive Ventilation in the Ventilator Discontinuation Process

Dean R Hess PhD RRT FAARC, Boston MA

Can noninvasive ventilation be used to shorten the course of invasive ventilation? Can noninvasive ventilation be used to prevent extubation failure? Attendees of this presentation will learn when (in the context of invasive ventilation) it is most appropriate to intervene with NIV, when it’s safe to consider and when it should be avoided. Presenter will review the most current evidence on this subject.

2:10 pm – 2:40 pm

Role of Tracheostomy

Ulrich Schmidt MD PhD, Boston MA

What is the evidence for early tracheostomy? Can conversion from an endotracheal tube to a tracheostomy allow earlier ventilator liberation? What is the role of pen versus percutaneous tracheostomy? Is there a “gold standard” when patients should be considered for tracheostomy? These and many other questions will be answered in this presentation.

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Ventilator Modes To Facilitate Weaning

Richard D Branson MSc RRT FAARC, Cincinnati OH

What new ventilator modes have become available with the promise to facilitate the ventilator liberation process? How do they work? What is the evidence supporting their use? Is one mode better than another or is it all marketing? Presenter will answer all of these questions and provide his perspective on whether closed-loop weaning is superior to therapist-driven weaning.

3:20 pm – 3:50 pm

Ventilator Discontinuation Protocols

Carl F Haas MLS RRT AE-C FAARC, Ann Arbor MI

Ventilator discontinuation protocols have been widely promoted in North America. What is the evidence supporting their use? What are some practical tips for their successful implementation? How do strategies used in North America differ from those used elsewhere around the world? What role does the RT play? Can nurses and physicians perform equally as well?

3:55 pm – 4:25 pm

Early Mobility and the Ventilator Discontinuation Process

Pedro Alejandro Mendez-Tellez MD, Baltimore MD

Early mobility of mechanically ventilated patients has received much attention in recent years. How has this impacted the ventilator liberation process? What is the evidence? Attendees will learn practical tips for safe and early mobility of mechanically ventilated patients. This presentation may challenge conventional beliefs of how clinicians have traditionally viewed the mechanically ventilated patient.

1:40 pm – 2:40 pm

Stents, Pacers, and VADs: A User’s Guide for the Respiratory Therapist

Lori D Conklin MD, Charlottesville VA

Invasive cardiovascular devices play a major role in the clinical course for critically ill patients. This presentation will review the clinical application of these devices and what the respiratory therapist must know. Is there a role at the bedside for RTs with these devices? What scope of practice issues should be considered? Presenter will share with attendees how to enhance their value with the physician community by becoming active in the management of these pieces of equipment.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Neonatal Resuscitation 2011 and Beyond

Thomas E Wiswell MD, Orlando FL

Much attention is given to lung protective ventilatory measures in the neonatal intensive care unit, but lung protection must occur from the very first breath. This presentation will describe lung protective strategies in the delivery room with considerations of future techniques and strategies that may further improve neonatal outcomes.

2:45 pm – 3:50 pm

Respiratory Home Care Update

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Home Care RTs: Is Anybody Still There?

Louis M Kaufman RRT-NPS AE-C FAARC, Olney MD

This presentation will discuss the impact of round one of competitive bidding on the delivery of clinical respiratory care services in the home care. The presenter will offer suggestions on how the important role of the home care RT can be maintained in an environment where DME companies are looking to make cuts. Attendees will leave this presentation with a better understanding of how they can maintain and enhance the value they bring to their company.

3:20 pm – 3:50 pm

What Can We Expect from Round Two?

Joseph S Lewarski RRT FAARC, North Ridgeville OH

Still trying to wrap your brain around round one of competitive bidding? Not sure what round two will bring? This presentation will describe the announced process of round two of the competitive bidding process. Presenter will discuss how the process for round two might be impacted by lessons learned from round one. A can’t miss presentation for any DME owner or manager.

2:45 pm – 5:00 pm

The Lungs and Beyond

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

COPD 101 for Practitioners

Scott Cerreta RRT, Tucson AZ

This presentation will provide the RT with a refresher on the basics of COPD with emphasis on pathology and exercise limitations. A 3D interactive video will be used to show the audience what happens to lung tissue during disease development. Attend this lecture and refine disease management skills on the anatomy and physiology of COPD…your patients will be glad you did.

3:20 pm – 3:50 pm

COPD Comorbidity

Robert Sandhaus MD, Bow Mar CO

RTs often develop tunnel vision and think of COPD in a vacuum. We sometimes forget that COPD patients can often present with co-morbid conditions that may or may not be a direct result of their lung dysfunction. COPD impacts more than just the pulmonary system. This presentation will identify and discuss other organ systems affected by COPD, and what considerations should be made by the RT when recommending treatment regimens for these patients.

3:55 pm – 4:25 pm

COPD Biomarkers: Is There Anything Better than Spirometry?

Stephen I Rennard MD, Omaha NE

Biomarkers are more than a simple smear of the chromosomes. It’s genetic testing that allows for early recognition of patients at risk for COPD through no fault of their own. What data is included in the international database to help identify people earlier? Is it realistic for us to believe we can diagnose these patients before spirometric evidence suggests otherwise? Presenter will answer these and other questions. Expand your diagnostic skills by learning more about these fascinating indicators of COPD.

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

All COPD Is Not the Same—Moving Toward Individualized/Personalized Care

Byron Thomashow MD, New York City NY

Are we close to a “cure” for COPD? If so, what would it look like? This presentation will highlight why it is so critical to diagnose people as early as possible and what can be done once an accurate diagnosis is made. Presenter will discuss what new advancements have been made and which ones are on the horizon for early diagnosis of COPD. RTs will gain a better understanding of their role in the diagnosis of this disease.

3:05 pm – 4:55 pm

Pediatric Research for the Clinician

3:05 pm – 3:30 pm

Top 5 Ways to Find the Research Behind Clinical Practice

Timothy R Myers RRT-NPS, Avon OH

So, you want to change clinical practice in your hospital, but a colleague asks for the data to support your views. Do you know how to find the applicable evidence? Searching via your internet home page does not always provide the complete answer. This presentation will review strategies to optimize search engines as well as specific database to fulfill your quest for information. Once you have your data, how do you interpret the evidence for your multidisciplinary team in an understandable manner? Come learn how to find, study, and translate the published research for your clinical practice.

3:30 pm – 3:55 pm

Top 5 Studies Relevant to Neonatal-Pediatric Practice: What Does This Mean for the Bedside Clinician?

Robert M DiBlasi RRT-NPS, Seattle WA

Ever feel as though you cannot keep up with all of the published data. Are colleagues quoting articles that you have never heard of? This presentation will review the top five neonatal-pediatric publications relevant to your practice. General strategies will help the bedside RT apply the medical literature in the clinical environment.

4:00 pm – 4:25 pm

So, You Want To Do Research?

Michael A Gentile RRT FAARC, Durham NC

From the perspective of the staff therapist, clinical research is often a vast unknown. This presentation will provide an overview of the clinical research environment from the bedside respiratory therapist’s perspective. Both the therapist who would like to be more aware of the research environment as well as the therapist who would like to launch a research project will benefit from this session. If you have any desire to participate in research, attend this informative session.

4:30 pm – 4:55 pm

Researching Neonatal-Pediatric Products in Respiratory Care

Kathleen M Deakins RRT-NPS, Cleveland OH

You have a clinical need for new products or equipment in your clinical practice. But does the cost justify the anticipated patient outcome? If there are multiple products, which one is better? This presentation will attempt to answer these questions. Also, the opportunity of performing product development research in a niche market will be discussed.

3:05 pm – 5:00 pm

Mass Casualty Respiratory Care

John Wilgis MBA RRT/Presiding

3:05 pm – 3:40 pm

Increasing Needs and Role of the Respiratory Therapist in Disaster Response

Michael R Anderson MD, Cleveland OH and John Wilgis MBA RRT, Orlando FL

The overall purpose of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is to supplement the integrated national medical response capabilities for assisting state and local authorities in dealing with the medical impact of major peacetime disasters. It also provides support to the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical systems in caring for causalities evacuated back to the U.S. from overseas conflicts. The NDMS is actively recruiting RTs to incorporate them into federal disaster response. The lecture will include an overview of NDMS and the proposed role of RTs in the updated staffing model.

3:45 pm – 4:20 pm

Critical Care in Disaster Response

CDR Lewis Rubinson MD PhD (USPHS), Senior Medical Advisor, Emergency Care Coordination Center, HHS/ASPR/OPEO, Washington DC

This presentation will cover the role RTs will play in a new critical care team being formed by the NDMS. Such topics include the need for highly skilled RTs with experience in critical care, job descriptions, the application process and preferred skill sets. The NDMS is actively recruiting for >100 RTs to fill slots on these new critical care teams.

4:25 pm – 5:00 pm

Ethical Decision Making During a Disaster

Mark D Babic RRT, Lakewood OH

When we are faced with a disaster and have run out of supplies, how will we make decisions that are ethical and treat people fairly? This lecturer will discuss the decisions that were made during the tornadoes in Joplin, MO, and Hurricane Katrina and the lessons that were learned from both. It will also describe the differences between palliative care and euthanasia. Finally, the lecturer will discuss a plan that is currently in place in Ontario, Canada, to deal with a pandemic.

3:20 pm – 4:45 pm

Neonatal Ventilation

3:20 pm – 4:00 pm

Ventilator Graphics: Visualizing Infant-Ventilator Synchrony

John S Emberger RRT FAARC, Newark DE

Patient-ventilator synchrony is essential, especially in the neonatal world. A strategic approach to the interpretation of neonatal airway graphics will be presented. Real-time graphics videos will be incorporated into the presentation. Strategies to optimize neonatal synchrony and other common neonatal ventilator problems will also be discussed.

4:05 pm – 4:45 pm

The Neonatal Ventilator: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

Robert M DiBlasi RRT-NPS, Seattle WA

Ventilator technology has changed drastically over the last 40+ years, but infants continue to suffer complications associated with mechanical ventilation. This presentation will describe the evolution of neonatal ventilators, including the effects on outcomes. The presentation will also review the major limitations of current neonatal ventilators. Speculation on the effects of new ventilator features will also be offered.

3:45 pm – 4:30 pm

Management Section Membership Meeting

Bill Cohagen RRT FAARC/Presiding

Section members meet to determine their needs and priorities, as well as how to use AARC resources to accomplish them. All Congress attendees, including section non-members are invited to attend and participate.

4:00 pm – 4:50 pm

Home Care Section Membership Meeting

Gregg Spratt/Presiding

4:00 pm – 4:55 pm

Establishing Expertise: The Role of the RT to Improve PAP Adherence

Joy E Hargett RRT, Houston TX

This presentation will review the potential issues that patients may encounter while starting and maintaining PAP therapy. The basics of PAP adherence will be discussed, including disease education, proper mask fit, and equipment education. Support activities and techniques to improve patient adherence to therapy will be emphasized while referencing the AARC’s “Clinician’s Guide to PAP Adherence.”

American Association for Respiratory Care

AARC Congress 2011