American Association for Respiratory Care names Jefferson a Quality Respiratory Care Institution

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital was recently bestowed the title of "Quality Respiratory Care Institution" (QRCR) for 2013 by the American Association for Respiratory Care. This designation is given to those facilities that have shown a commitment to quality and provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines.

Approximately 700 hospitals or 15 percent of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award, aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.

"Our respiratory care practitioners are our partners in caring for patients with disorders of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems," says Mani Kavuru, director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Jefferson. "Respiratory therapists are essential in treating the needs of our most critically ill patients in our intensive care unit. Much credit goes to the leadership for seeking out and receiving this elite recognition."

Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, and other lung or lung-related conditions. They are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

Jefferson, like all recognized institutions has a Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy designated as medical director of respiratory care services, its respiratory therapists delivering bedside respiratory care are recognized by the state or hold the CRT or RRT credential, and respiratory therapists are available 24 hours a day.

In addition, all QRCR institutions must use a process that compares performance of the respiratory department on efficiency and quality metrics and have a hospital policy that prohibits the routine delivery of medicated aerosol treatments utilizing small volume nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, or intermittent positive pressure treatments to multiple patients simultaneously.