Marietta Memorial Hospital has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals.

 

About 700 hospitals or approximately 75% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award.

 

The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care.  Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.

 

To qualify for the recognition, Marietta Memorial, provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:

 

The AARC’s QRCR program grew out of growing concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients.  Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care.  A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the association’s website for consumers, YourLungHealth.org.

 

Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician’s orders to 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 also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

 

Jennifer Alley, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Marietta Memorial Hospital, was extremely pleased with this achievement.  “We are very proud of the fact that we have 32 credentialed and licensed Respiratory Therapists working at MMH. Our Respiratory Therapists provide care in several patient care settings including, the pulmonary diagnostic lab, pulmonary rehab, sleep diagnostics, surgery, and of course critical care areas, the emergency department and inpatient care units.  Our Board Certified Pulmonologist/ Medical Director oversees the care provided by our Respiratory Therapists. Together we provide quality, skilled, and compassionate care to our patients. It is wonderful to be nationally recognized for quality respiratory care services, but it is a greater honor to know that we provide that care to our family and friends in the communities we serve.”

 

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

 

For list see:

 

Please note: The full 2008 list of QRCR hospitals will not be posted until April 15, 2008.