Respiratory Therapy

The Respiratory Therapy Department at Ashley Regional Medical Center is an integral part of patient services. The department is staffed by Registered Respiratory Therapists and is utilized in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, EKG's, Pulmonary Function, Mechanical Ventilation, SVN and Aerosol Therapy. The Respiratory Department at Ashley Regional has been received the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition for the past 2 years.

Ashley Regional Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) for the second year in a row under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals.

The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities utilizing 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.

The 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. Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician's order to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, 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.