Forsyth Medical Center 
2005 News Releases
For Third Year in a Row, Forsyth Medical Center Earns National Recognition for Quality Respiratory Care
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June 8, 2005 Contact: Freda Springs,(336) 718-4050 or pager(336) 761-3106 |
Winston-Salem, NC - Forsyth Medical Center has been named a Quality Respiratory Care Provider for the third year in a row by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). This national program, established in 2003, is designed to help patients and their families identify those healthcare facilities that are using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care.
"This recognition by the American Association for Respiratory Care means that when patients come to Forsyth Medical Center, they will receive the best possible respiratory care available," says Shelbourne Stevens, director of cardiopulmonary services. "This certification tells them that we are here, 24 hours a day, ready to offer the latest technology and most advanced respiratory care possible."
Hospitals recognized for quality respiratory care by the AARC agree to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing respiratory care services for patient safety. The quality of respiratory care at these hospitals is at or above national standards and guidelines.
To qualify for the recognition, Forsyth Medical Center met the following conditions:
- All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.
- Respiratory therapists are available 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 must be designated in writing.
- A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician's orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS and other lung or lung-related conditions. Forsyth Medical Center's more then 80 respiratory therapists work in various departments throughout the hospital, caring for a wide range of patients, from premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to adults.
The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 37,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.
Novant Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system in western North Carolina, serving people in 32 counties reaching from southern Virginia to northern South Carolina. Novant and the majority of its facilities are 501(C)3, private, community organizations.
The healthcare system consists of seven hospitals in the Triad and Charlotte markets: Forsyth Medical Center, Medical Park Hospital, and Thomasville Medical Center in the Triad market: Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews of the Charlotte market. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.
