This document discusses how respiratory therapists can increase their influence and involvement in hospital settings. It notes that respiratory therapy is often not represented at important meetings and tables, despite RTs receiving extensive education and training. The document recommends that RTs step up by getting involved in committees, attending meetings, presenting in-services on their areas of expertise, being proactive in quality improvement processes, and showing their professionalism through leadership roles. The overall message is that now is the time for RTs to more actively engage and ensure their voice is represented.

1. Jason Ousey EMT, RRT
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Adapted from “Tales from the Trenches”
by Jacque Coons BS RRT
Increasing the power of
Respiratory Care in the Hospital
setting

2. JCAHO Representative Quote:
“Where is Respiratory
therapy? They are never around.
Why aren’t they at the table with
everyone else? This is what I see
nation-wide. Why is that?”

3. What Regulates RCP’s Practice?
•State regulation
•Federal regulations
•Hospital Guidelines and requirements
•AARC/WSRC Clinical Guidelines
•JCAHO

4. How are RCP’s educated?
• 2 or 4 year Degree
•Large amount of time spent on medications
and Oxygen
•Trained in many Therapies and patient care
areas
•Trained in advanced skills
•Knowledge of hemodynamics
•Trained in high powered technology
•BLS/ACLS/PALS/NRP certifications

5. How are RCP’s educated (cont.)
•Intubation of all ages
•Pulmonary Function testing
•Sleep Medicine
•Nitric and other Specialty Gasses
•Neonates
•Home Care

6. With all the skills and training that Respiratory
Therapist possess
“Why aren’t RCP’s sitting at the table in this nation”

7. Now is the time to show everyone our Professional side:
Step up to the table
Be a team player
Get involved

8. If you are part of a Team or Committee:
•Attend all the meetings
•If you are unable, let the committee chair know you are unable and
follow up after the meeting to find out what you might have missed
and if there are any projects you need to work on
•If you get paged away try and return or follow up latter with
committee chair
•If you have something to present but are unable, make sure it gets to
the meeting and presented
•Offer to give in-services on areas of your expertise.

9. Daily Attendance at Rounds –
Have Your Option Heard, If
Unable to Be There for All the
Patients Pick the Ones That Are
Important. Maybe Ask Them to
Page You When They Get Near
That Patient.

10. Be Proactive in a Failure Mode Effect Analysis Process
(FMEA)
FMEA looks at a given process, identifies possible or likely errors, then gauges what
effect there will be, even before they take place.
Look at the processes in the hospital in a proactive approach to prevent
errors. Provide the best service to your patients and all other staff.
With FMEA we can recognize the difference between a “error” and a
“accident”
An “error” is a failure to perform an intended action that was appropriate,
given the circumstances. It is not defined by an adverse outcome.
An “accident” is an unplanned, unexpected, and undesired event, usually
with an adverse outcome.
FMEA seeks to help prevent adverse outcomes, by preventing or inhibiting
the translation of an error into an accident.
Design of a process (system) serves to eliminate or reduce the effects of a
specific error

11. How to show your Professionalism:
“Being a professional”
•Accept a committee position
•Accept a committee chair position
•Become the head of a team
•Devolve a new process
•Educate the hospital staff on RCP issues
•Be a preceptor for new staff and students (potential
new staff)
•Work with nursing to solve an ongoing problem.
•Be a advocate for the department.

12. Show You Are a Professional
Become a Member of the AARC
Volunteer to Help With New
Educational Programs, Work on a
Committee or Become a Member of the
WSRC BOD.

13. Step To The Table!
Be Proactive – Not Reactive!
Take The Challenge!