AARC’s mission is to advance the science, technology, ethics, and art of respiratory care through research and education for its members and to teach the general public about pulmonary health and disease prevention.

Background
The AARC is a not-for-profit professional association representing more than 37,000 members. Members include respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians, pulmonary laboratory technicians, home health providers, home medical equipment suppliers, industrial sales representatives, manufacturers of respiratory care equipment, and respiratory patients. A network of 50 state societies involves members in local and state activities.

Founded in 1947, the AARC is sponsored by the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. For more than 50 years, the AARC has led the respiratory care profession in science, education and research. Its members are committed to providing exemplary respiratory care and improving lung health worldwide.

In addition to a Board of Directors, the AARC has a Board of Medical Advisors, a 16-member board of physician advisors representing sponsor organizations, plus the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Allergy and Immunology, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the National Association of Medical Directors in Respiratory Care.

Education
The AARC co-sponsors and appoints representatives to the National Board for Respiratory Care, the body that administers nationally recognized credentialing examinations. The AARC is dedicated to the improvement of patient care and offers several opportunities throughout the year for members to earn Continuing Respiratory Care Education credits (CRCEs), through a plethora of meetings, educational courses and symposia in all areas of respiratory care. The Association also offers CRCE Online – its newest high-tech Internet education system, available to all members 24/7 through the AARC web site.

Advocacy
The AARC interacts with local, state, and federal government on public policies that affect our patients and our members. From Tobacco Settlement monies to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, to health-care reform proposals, the AARC keeps Congress, state and local policymakers and its members up to date on the issues that are important to patient care and respiratory practice. AARC Representatives are appointed to other organizations that work on common issues. These include the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association Panel of Consultants and the National Lung Health Program, among others.

American Respiratory Care Foundation
The AARC sponsors the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF). The Foundation is dedicated to furthering the art, science, quality, and technology of respiratory care. It is a non-profit organization supporting research, education and charitable purposes.

Publications
The Association publishes RESPIRATORY CARE and AARC Times. RESPIRATORY CARE is the foremost scientific journal of the respiratory care profession and is included in Index Medicus. RESPIRATORY CARE features original research and case reports on topics such as chest radiographs, pulmonary function tests and blood gas analyses. AARC Times is the premier news and feature magazine of the profession and contains management tips, human-interest features, profiles of respiratory care leaders and more. In addition to these monthly publications, the AARC produces Respiratory Care Patient-Driven Protocols, Orientation & Competency Assurance Manual, Uniform Reporting Manual for Subacute Care and Uniform Reporting Manual for Acute Care.

Contact Information
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