Supply, N.C. - The American Association for Respiratory Care has recognized Brunswick Community Hospital for quality respiratory care for the fourth consecutive year ??? placing the hospital in the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) created this national program, which awards top hospitals with Quality Respiratory Care Recognition, to help patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care available at local hospitals. Only 700 hospitals nationwide have earned this recognition for 2010.

???We are honored to receive this recognition and especially proud of our staff who work to ensure high-quality, safe care for our patients every day,??? said Peggy McCumbee, manager of respiratory care services at Brunswick Community Hospital.

Brunswick Community Hospital adheres to a strict set of criteria for respiratory care services, which ensures patient safety and led to this recognition. To qualify for the AARC???s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition, the hospital provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:

• All of the hospital???s respiratory therapists are legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours per day, seven days a weekr
• 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 physician serves as the medical director of respiratory care services for the hospital

The Quality Respiratory Care Recognition Program grew out of 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 requirements for this recognition provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines.

Brunswick Community Hospital???s cardiopulmonary services include pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and breathing treatments. The hospital???s licensed respiratory therapists are also available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to respiratory emergencies in the Emergency Department and throughout the hospital. Respiratory therapists also provide care to patient???s in the hospital???s pulmonary rehabilitation program, which is an education and exercise program designed to help individuals who have lung disease or serious breathing difficulties.

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. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide. For more information on the quality of services provided at Brunswick Community Hospital, visit www.BrunswickCommunityHospital.org/quality, or for a list of all hospitals who have received the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition, visit www.YourLungHealth.org.

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