Vice President of Respiratory Services
Klingensmith Healthcare
Ford City, PA
AARC Member since 1984
AARC Activities
Member, AARC, 1984—present
Member, Homecare Section, 1998—present
Member, Management Section, 2010—present
Member, Continuing Care Section, 2010—present
2012 Alternate representative for the AARC on the Joint Commission's Home Care Professional & Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)
HOD Activities
Active member PSRC(PA Society of Respiratory Care)since 1985—volunteered for activities such as conference planning, golf outings, etc.
Related Activities
AACVPR Member since 2009
ACCP Member since 2009
Active Member Med Group Respiratory Network
Active Member Pennsylvania Society of Respiratory Care since 1984
Education
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, Indiana University of PA, May 1985
RRT, CPFT
Publications
AARC Times, March 2012; Elder Safety Care in the Home
Respiratory Therapy, Feb/March 2012; Non-invasive Open Ventilation System May Improve Activities of Daily Living-A Case Study
Spring 2012, Home Care Section Bulletin How Does the Homecare RT Thrive...Create Value in the Home
Respiratory Care November 2010; Abstract: COPD Transition of Care and Rehospitalization Rates
Respiratory Care November 2011; Abstract: Dash Summary, 30-Day Readmission Rates Following a Respiratory Therapist Driven COPD Disease Management Program in the Home
Respiratory Care Nov 2011 Medications and Readmissions Associated with COPD
What AARC or Chartered Affiliate offices/positions have you held where you feel you made a significant contribution to our profession? What is the contribution and how will you apply it to your new position if elected?
I have not held any positions within the AARC. I am a homecare RT with over 25 years of experience. Positive contributions that I have made were in the last three years when I created a transition of care program for COPD patients to decrease hospital readmissions. The success of this program has been documented in a number of documents as well as being recognized as a Center of Excellence by the AACP in 2011. The homecare section chair needs to continue to push the RTs involvement in the home. We need to “own the home” and gather outcomes supporting the expertise of the RT.
As a leader, what do you see as the top 3 priorities for the AARC, and what steps would you take to advance those priorities?
1. The number one priority for the AARC should be gaining recognition of the homecare RT. We need to be paid for the services we provide to our patients and not to be “included in the rental of the equipment.” The RT bill will certainly help, but we need to be included under the home health agency umbrella. Homecare is an essential area that has lacked attention. With reimbursement at an all time low, we can't afford to give our service away for free. For this reason, many DME companies are eliminating RT positions within their company and standards of patient care are being lowered.
2. Drive RTs to measure outcomes and publish what they are doing. The future of the homecare RT depends on outcomes.
3. Develop standards of care for transitioning care among all continuums of care (i.e. hospitals, LTAC, skilled facility, homecare, etc.). Leaders from the various subcommittees need to come together as a team and create these standards.
Leadership development is an issue facing many organizations, including the AARC. What can the AARC do to mentor the next generation of leaders?
The AARC needs a grass roots awareness program of what committees are within the organization. This awareness campaign may consist of brochures, phone calls, webinars, or presentations at educational events to recruit and educate. Unfortunately, there are many members and non members that are unfamiliar with committees that exist within the AARC. In many cases, they are not sure what the AARC does for their profession. They don’t know how to get involved or even what to get involved with. Lack of knowledge lends to lack of participation in many instances. Also, if everyone in a management position within the AARC recruited a passionate RT and “took them under their wing” it would be a natural progression into becoming an involved active member and ultimately leaders of our profession.