AARC, Five Other Organizations, Establish Hospital Care Collaborative

September 8, 2009

The AARC is one of six founding members of a new initiative aimed at improving teamwork and accountability in the nation’s hospitals.

AARC Executive Director Sam Giordano, MBA, RRT, FAARC, and Director of Education and Management Services Bill Dubbs, MEd, MHA, RRT, FAARC, are representing the Association to the Hospital Care Collaborative (HCC), a coalition consisting of the AARC, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Society of Health System Pharmacists, Case Manager Society of America, Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, and Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM).

The HCC has developed a list of 13 guiding principles for delivering health care in the hospital. Common Principles for Healthcare represents a consensus of the six organizations and emphasizes the need for collaboration, patient centered care, accountability, and information sharing. The principles also recognize systemic issues in hospital care, such as gaps in health care education and the pressing need for a hospital culture that better promotes teamwork.

“This is an important sea change in how health care is delivered at our nation’s hospitals,” says SHM President Scott Flanders, MD, FHM. “Our patients will benefit when the entire health care team is mobilized to provide the best care we can all muster for their benefit. SHM is committed to working closely with our health professional allies—nursing, pharmacy, social work, case managers, and respiratory therapists—to make this happen.”

AARC President Tim Myers, BA, RRT-NPS, believes the initiative will go a long way toward establishing the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration necessary to truly put the patient first. “The AARC recognizes that when health care professionals work together in a non-hierarchical model at the bedside, improved clinical and economic outcomes result. The collective knowledge, talent, and professionalism of all team members results in improving the value of clinical care to our patients. The AARC staunchly supports the HCC’s Common Principles for Healthcare.”