May 18, 2004 – The Roy L. Schneider Hospital Respiratory Care Department has received recognition from a national group for the quality of its staffing, operations and services.
The American Association for Respiratory Care advised the hospital this week that it has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition. Such recognition is part of a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals.
"We are extremely pleased and honored to receive this recognition for our valuable staff," Rodney E. Miller Sr., hospital chief executive officer, said. "Especially when asthma, emphysema and other respiratory conditions are so prevalent today, the community should take heart that our Respiratory Care Department meets the highest standards for safety and quality of health care services."
To qualify for the QRCR designation, Schneider Hospital met requirements and conditions that include the following:
– All respiratory therapists employed to deliver bedside care hold CRT (certified respiratory therapist) or RRT (registered respiratory therapist) credentials.
– Respiratory therapists are available to the community 24 hours a day.
– Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures are designated in writing.
A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director or respiratory care services.
Jeannine Mydlenski, the hospital's director of respiratory care, said the department also had to meet strict standards regarding staffing and educational preparedness, as well as provide services around the clock.
"We are a busy department, seeing an average of 20 patients a day," Mydlenski said. "In addition to asthma, bronchitis, and other lung and heart conditions, we manage life support and see people with sickle cell disease and renal failure and stroke victims. Patient education is emphasized, so that people know what condition they have and can manage it."
Dr. Derrick Jones is the department's medical director. Consulting physicians are Dr. Audria Thomas and Dr. Thelma Watson. Staff members are Jeffrey Belle, Jeanne Davison, Mydlenski, Reginald Wilkerson and Tim Wilson.
To learn more about the American Association for Respiratory Care, visit its Your Lung Health Web site.
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