Join Your Fellow RTs in spreading the word the Virtual Lobby Campaign Reboot
Ask House members to cosponsor H.R. 2508, the Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act (the BREATHE Act) and Senators to introduce companion legislation. Let your voice be heard!
On Monday, May 20th the AARC will be asking advocates to send messages primarily through Twitter. Please note you must have an active Twitter account to do this. Our goal is to have a storm of tweets to Congressional leaders that day so RT voices are heard loud and clear. Help us get our message out about HR 2508 The Better Respiration through Expanding Access to TeleHEalth Act also known as the BREATHE Act.
Why this is important
Officially known as the Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act, H.R. 2508 will support a three-year pilot project allowing qualified respiratory therapists (RTs) to serve as telehealth practitioners to deliver disease management services to Medicare beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Two important messages
- Message #1: Ask your House members to co-sponsor the BREATHE Act in the House.
- Message #2: Ask your Senators to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 2508 in the Senate
Your Voice Matters
You are the voice of respiratory care. Sharing your voice can help ensure the success of this legislation.
Thank you for your support and for the dedication you give each day to your patients and the profession.
#HR2508 #breathingmatters, #telehealth and #aarclobby
Asthma Education Specialist Needed for Milford Regional Program
Provide in home asthma assessments and medication management strategies for the Milford Health Department’s Putting on AIRS asthma intervention program
This is a grant-funded contractor position contingent on availability of funds. Open availability $28/hr. This hourly rate includes travel time, asthma education with Putting on AIRS client and paperwork.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Licensed Respiratory Therapist
QUALIFICATIONS
Respiratory Therapist with current asthma educator certification and experience in education and asthma care. Experience and training in asthma management and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Guidelines for Asthma Management. Displays effective communication and interpersonal skills working with providers, staff and patients. Utilizes problem solving approach to difficult/complex patient and staff situations. Organizational skills are necessary to prioritize and coordinate activities with other members of the health care team.
Must have a valid Connecticut Driver’s License and own reliable transportation. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends.
For a complete description of the job and where to apply, please click HERE.
Update to the Scope of Practice Changes Announced
Update on the Scope of Practice -
This letter is in response to the many questions that our members have had about the scope changes listed below. We hope this helps.
Dear Connecticut Respiratory Care Practitioners:
On behalf of the Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care, we would like to inform you of the Department of Health’s response to the question concerning the change in annual CEU requirement. The question has been raised how this impacts Respiratory Therapists renewing their license in 2019? Below is DPH’s response:
Jason,
The Department of Public Health has responded to my question. (I had asked a hypothetical of what is required if the license is renewed in February 2019, for instance.) As you can see from the response below, DPH is stating that the 10 hours needs to be met when licenses are renewed after Jan. 1, 2019.
Sec. 77. Subsection (b) of section 20-162r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2019):
(b)Except as otherwise provided in this section, for registration periods beginning on and after [October 1, 2007]January 1, 2019, a licensee applying for license renewal shall earn a minimum of [five]tenhours of continuing education within the preceding registration period. Such continuing education shall (1) be directly related to respiratory therapy; [and](2) reflect the professional needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of the public; and (3) include a minimum of at least five hours of real-time education with opportunities for live interaction, including, but not limited to, in-person conferences or real-time webinars. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not limited to, courses, including on-line courses, offered or approved by the American Association for Respiratory Care, regionally accredited institutions of higher education, or a state or local health department.
Linda
Important Changes to Our Scope of Practice are Coming!
HB 5163, Sections 534-537, the Omnibus Department of Public Health revisions bill which incorporates changes to our scope of practice was signed by Governor Malloy into law on June 13, 2018. It is now known as Public Act (PA) 18-168.
The changes to our scope of practice take effect October 1, 2018, and the changes to our continuing education requirements take effect January 1, 2019.
Use the following link to read more about this important announcement.
SAVE THE DATE
The Fall Conference will be Wed. Sept 25, 2019
at Naugatuck Valley Community College
Latest News
Virtual Lobby Reboot
The BREATHE Act will allow qualified respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners to deliver disease management services to Medicare beneficiaries with COPD. Contact Congress NOW, don’t delay! bit.ly/2Ysk6pg #HR2508 #aarclobby READ MORE
CTSRC Accepting Applications for Students to Attend the AARC House of Delegates Meeting
The CTSRC is accepting applications for current CT Respiratory Therapy Students and 2019 CT Respiratory Therapy graduates to attend the AARC House of Delegates’ Meeting in New Orleans on Nov 7 and 8,... READ MORE
THE WEB SITE IS WORKING!!!
Thank you everyone for being so patient. The web site is up and running and you can register for the conference online again!! Remember that early bird registration ends on April 15th!! READ MORE
RTs Take Action!
The BREATHE Act will allow qualified respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners to deliver disease management services to Medicare beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Contact Congress NOW and ask the House to consider co-sponsoring the... READ MORE
Asthma Education Specialist Needed for Milford Regional Program
Asthma Education Specialist Needed for Milford Regional Program Provide in home asthma assessments and medication management strategies for the Milford Health Department’s Putting on AIRS asthma intervention program This is a grant-funded contractor... READ MORE
Time to VOTE
It is time to vote for three CTSRC Board of Directors positions and a Delegate position. The election is open from March 1-April 20, 2019. Only CT AARC active members as of Feb... READ MORE