President Rodriguez Issues Charge To Respiratory Therapists To Gear Up For Legislative Passage Of The Respiratory Therapy Initiative, USA

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 24 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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President Toni Rodriguez charged all respiratory therapists to jump the last major hurdle in solidifying the identity of Respiratory Care as a profession at the December annual meeting of the AARC.

"On our 60th anniversary we stand on the brink of some of our greatest accomplishments as a profession," says President Rodriguez. "When the right time and the right circumstances fuse, you must be ready to act."

Dr. Rodriguez called upon every member of our profession to shake off the bonds of discouragement, apathy and resigned attitude and unite behind the legislative efforts to get H.R. 3968 passed into law. The passage of H.R. 3968 would open the door to greater access to certain qualified RTs in physicians' offices and other alternate sites of care.

President Rodriguez outlined the Association's objectives for 2008 at the annual business meeting by saying, "The next 60 years will be years of challenge and change for our profession. If we know who we are as a profession and remain committed to acting in like manner, we will succeed and make the most of all the opportunity currently coming our way. If we fail, we will cheat the patient of needed respiratory care services both now and in the future. Now is our time. The future of our profession is in our hands. "

American Association for Respiratory Care