Published: July 15, 2008 08:16 am      

Crossroads receives Respiratory Care Recognition

Staff Report

MT. VERNON — Crossroads Community Hospital has received the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition award from the American Association for Respiratory Care for the second year in a row.

The award program began in 2003 in an effort to help consumers identify facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care, according to information from the hospital. Hospitals which receive the QRCR designation adhere to a strict set of criteria governing respiratory care services.

About 700 hospitals in the U.S. applied for and received the award. To qualify for the recognition, Crossroads was required to provide documentation proving that all respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential; that respiratory therapists are available 24 hours a day; that other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for them to carry out the procedures is designated in writing; and that a doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.

The AARC is a membership organization which represents more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.