Providence Health Center received recognition as a quality care provider under a new program aimed at making sure patients have access to respiratory care services provided by qualified respiratory therapists.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) started the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) program earlier this year to help consumers make informed choices about their health care.

To qualify for this recognition, the Respiratory Care Department at Providence met the following conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed by Providence to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services, or hold CRT or RRT credentials;
• Respiratory therapists are available at Providence 24 hours;
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing;
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.