August 27, 2009

Make Sure Your Vents are Counted!
The National Ventilator Survey being conducted by the AARC is underway now. Make sure the ventilators in your hospitals are counted by the Sept. 10 deadline. This vital information will assist HHS in planning for a pandemic flu or other major respiratory-related event.

H1N1 Resources Featured
AARC has collected information and resource tools on H1N1, but we’re looking for notes from the field, too. Check it out and tell us what experiences you are seeing in your area now. Be brief and to the point.

Early Bird Discount Expires on Tuesday
Your purchase of official Respiratory Care Week products supports AARC programs. Act by Sept. 1 to take advantage of the 10% early bird discount for orders totaling $50 or more for your faxed, mail, or phone orders.

60 Minutes Rebroadcasts Dr. Bird Segment
A story on Dr. Forrest Bird will be rebroadcast on 60 Minutes this coming Sunday, Aug. 30. If you've not seen it before, it's a fascinating segment about a great pioneer and hero in respiratory care and worth watching.

AARC Hears from CMS on Key Issues
Thanks to ongoing action on the part of the AARC, CMS has issued several statements related to respiratory care services. According to the agency:

• RTs may carry out orders written by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, as long as a physician co-signs within a designated period of time.
• Respiratory therapy can be a covered service in the inpatient rehabilitation facility setting if the need is well-documented and ordered by the physician.
• The timeframes established by the AARC’s Position Statement on Inhaled Medication Administration Schedules may be considered acceptable for determining that a medication has been administered in accordance with the physician’s order.

Lecture Lab Seeking Aspiring Speakers
We’ll be hosting another “Lecture Lab” at the AARC Congress in San Antonio where aspiring speakers can “try out” for next year’s Congress in Las Vegas. If you’re interested, click on the link and apply for a spot by Sept. 24.

Congressman Visits AARC Office
The AARC Executive Office had a very special visitor on Sept. 13—Congressman Kenny Marchant, who represents the district in which the office is located. Staff members had the chance to talk about the RT Medicare Initiative.

Good Press: AARC Members in the News
We have another great lineup of newsmakers to share–including a member who’s invented a rather unique tool to help infants locate lost pacifiers.

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