Your Time Standards Are Needed to Update Surveys for the AARC Uniform Reporting Manual (URM)

Updated May 31, 2012
April 18, 2012

For nearly the past three decades, the AARC’s Uniform Reporting Manual (URM) has provided managers of respiratory services in acute care hospitals with a productivity management system based on time standards. This tool has proven itself invaluable in determining productivity, tracking trends in the utilization of services, determining personnel requirements, and measuring demand and intensity of service. By comparing activities based on relative workload intensity, it provides an objective means of assessing staffing adequacy. We are now in the process of revising and updating this manual.

In this revision, the scope of the project will extend well beyond just hospital inpatient procedures. Productivity systems for pulmonary function, blood gas, echo/non-invasive cardiology, hyperbaric medicine and sleep laboratory services will be included. For the first time pulmonary rehabilitation services provided in both hospitals and free standing facilities will be included.

At the foundation of these systems are valid time standards. We need to collect and analyze your time standards so we have a sufficient statistical base from which we can develop new national time standards. We are asking you to participate in a web-based survey. The survey will provide you with descriptions and the critical components of procedures and ask you to report the time standard for those you perform.

Learn how you can participate in this most important AARC project. Surveys remain open through June 15, 2012. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Bill Dubbs, AARC Director of Management and Education.