September 1, 2011

Respiratory Care Week Slogan Announced:
Respiratory Therapists: Physician Recommended, Patient Approved
Only 7 weeks to Respiratory Care Week! Join the celebration on October 23–29 and honor the contributions of respiratory care professionals everywhere. Official t-shirts, posters, banners, and many more gifts and educational items are available now in the AARC Store. Visit the official RC Week website, too, for fresh ideas and resources.

AARC, Fellow Organizations, Address PR Payment Concerns with CMS
The AARC joined other organizations in a meeting with CMS on Aug. 24 to address concerns over the government’s proposal to reduce payment for pulmonary rehabilitation services in the hospital outpatient setting. Click on the link to read more about short and long term solutions suggested by the five organizations and their joint comments submitted to CMS.

Hurricane Irene: Send Us Your Eyewitness Reports
Hurricane Irene caused widespread destruction all up and down the East Coast, and we know many of you were right in the middle of the action. Tell us how you helped your patients weather the storm by emailing your eyewitness reports to Debbie Bunch at DebBunch@aol.com. We’ll share some of your experiences on the AARC website next week.

AARC Elections: Voting Begins Sept. 2
Voting in the AARC 2012 Elections begins on Friday, so head over to the site and learn more about the candidates, then cast your ballot for the members you’d like to lead your professional organization over the coming year and beyond.

International Speakers Add Depth to AARC Congress 2011
If you’re headed to Tampa this Nov. 5–8, you’ll have two great chances to hear from leaders in mechanical ventilation from here in the U.S. and abroad.

• The “2011 Update on Non-Invasive Ventilation” symposium will take a look at everything from choosing the right device and the right interface, to indications for NIV and setting up an effective NIV program. NIV experts Stefano Nava, MD, from Italy, and Michelle Chatwin from the U.K,, will join their American colleagues, Robert Kacmarek and John Davies in the presentation.
• In the “Respiratory Care in 2011: The North American-European Perspective” session, Dr. Chatwin will combine forces with Paolo Navalesi, MD, from Italy, and U.S. RTs Dean Hess and Timothy Myers to cover approaches to NIV and liberation from mechanical ventilation on both continents.

Don’t miss these exciting opportunities to learn how care here in the U.S. can benefit from care delivered by our European counterparts—and visa versa.

State Societies Get Help with Strategic Planning
State societies all around the country are shoring up their operations, thanks to help from a planning consultant made available to them by the AARC Board of Directors. AARC member Garry Kauffman has already visited with leaders in six states to help them refine their mission statements and core values, get more members involved with the AARC, and develop action plans for success.

Garry will also be presenting on management trends at AARC Congress 2011, and is looking for input from all of you. So read his blog on AARConnect and weigh in with your ideas.

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