12th Annual RCSW Diagnostic Session

Virtual lobby weeks are March 28-April 15

Virtual lobby weeks are March 28-April 15. Please follow the link below to send letters in support for HR 2948 Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. Send an email or letter once a day through this simple process:

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It's Sputum Bowl Time Again! Monday, April 18th

Did you know the RCSW hosts a Sputum Bowl competition at the RCSW Pacific Northwest Regional Respiratory Care Conference and Scientific Assembly every year?  

We are seeking 12 teams with 3 members to join in on the fun!

• First place will be free registration for the 2017 NW Regional Conference 
• Limit Two teams per facility only, please. 
• As always, your question submissions are welcome! 
• Questions are referenced from standard RC text books and our RC Journal
• Categories include:  Acute Care, Airway Management, Gas Therapy, History, Humidity & Aerosol Therapy, Chem/Physics, Pharmacology, Microbiology Infection Control,  Mechanical Ventilation, Neonatal Pediatrics, Diagnostics and Home Care/Rehab 
• For more information, to register your team, to help out with the judging, or to donate prizes, please contact Lauri Stephens at redlauri@msn.com, lauri@uw.edu  or 360-689-3964 
• Join us for a fun evening of pulmonary trivia!

Sputum Bowl teams around the state are practicing for the event

Join the RCSW LUNG FORCE Team on Saturday, May 7th

LUNG FORCE Walk - Seattle
Saturday, May 7th, 2016 

Please join or donate to the RCSW LUNG FORCE Team, Respiratory Therapist Rock!, and help us raise funds to support the fight against lung cancer.  With your participation and help, our LUNG FORCE Walk will make a difference in lives that desperately need it.

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2016 Scholarship Packets Available

Did you know the Respiratory Care Society of Washington has multiple scholarships for Respiratory Care Practitioners and students?

If you are a Respiratory Care Practitioner, a RCSW/AARC member, and enroled in an out of state Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral Programs, please contact Bob Bonner at bbonner@highline.edu to receive a 2016 RCSW Scholarship Packet.   

If you are a Respiratory Care Student at one of the five Washington state respiratory care programs, please contact your program director for further details on how you may apply for a scholarship.

The scholarships will be awarded at the RCSW annual business meeting on April 19th at the Regional Conference in Spokane.

Special Note: The deadline for application submission is March 14, 2016

2015 Recipients

New Online RCSW Newsletter

The RCSW is scouring the internet for the most recent respiratory care news so you don't have to! Welcome to The RCSW Weekly.

The RCSW Weekly provides a collection of the week's online stories related to respiratory care, pulmonary diseases, smoking cessation, and corresponding health issues.  The stories are compiled from sources such as the RCSW, AARC, RC Journal, CDC, Public Health, ATS, and Chest, just to name a few.

Please take a moment to peruse the most recent issue and subscibe!

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43rd Annual Pacific Northwest Regional Respiratory Care Conference And Scientific Assembly

April 17, 18, and 19, 2016

Northern Quest Resort & Casino - map

Conference Brochure (+Mail-in Registration Form)

Conference Agenda

Registration powered by RegOnline

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5 Things I Learned at AARC Congress 2015 to Help Me Jump Start My Career

By Diamond Nogueira at AARC.org

Greg Carter, left, and Diamond NogueiraI recently had the opportunity to attend the 61st International Respiratory Convention & Exhibition in Tampa, FL. This was a once in a lifetime chance for an RT student like myself. I was privileged to sit with the House of Delegates (HOD) prior to the convention and witnessed what goes on behind the scenes of the AARC. I learned so much about the evolving practice and wonderful advancements of respiratory therapy.

This really was a catapult for the beginning of my career in many ways, and here are the top five things I learned during the experience —

1. The respiratory therapy profession is gaining more importance and recognition as the AARC continues to push for a tobacco-free future. I first was informed of this during the HOD meeting, where I learned that the AARC has joined with the CDC on a smoking cessation campaign referred to as the TIPS program. This program is designed to educate people about the devastating effects of tobacco use and to encourage people to quit and provide tools and resources to help them on the path to smoking cessation.

Secondly, I learned more about smoking cessation progress during the Keynote Address titled “Tobacco Wars! The Battle for A Smoke-free Society.” The speaker was Patrick Reynolds, who is the grandson of tobacco company founder, R.J. Reynolds. In 1986 Mr. Reynolds spoke out against big tobacco companies after their products took the life of his father and eldest brother. He has campaigned for the FDA’s regulation of all forms of tobacco and e-cigarettes. He also discussed our importance and how together we can create a smoke-free society.

2. I had the chance to network with students from around the U.S. during the two days I spent with the HOD. This gave us all a chance to hear about what is going on around the campuses to continue the worldwide education and evolution of respiratory care. This profession is gaining recognition, and with the passion and drive we saw in the delegates and ourselves I know respiratory therapy will be in good hands going forward.

3. I had the privilege to network with legendary respiratory therapists and advocates throughout my time in Tampa. This enriched my passion for this profession I chose even more. My mother has COPD, so this profession is personal and important.

4. I learned that our profession is celebrated beyond the hospital doors. There was an awards ceremony celebrating some wonderful therapists. The evening to follow was an opening reception sponsored by Drager. It’s nice to know RTs are important not only to patients and their families but to the entire hospital team and the medical companies who rely on us. But mostly we are noticed by our peers, the other seasoned RTs. I feel as a future RT, the sky is the limit, and choosing this profession was the right choice.

5. Last but not least I learned that what will help me advance the start of my career is to be an active member of the AARC and become involved with my state society, the Respiratory Care Society of Washington (RCSW). As a student I have already become involved and have shared my experiences and what I learned with fellow students. The goal is to keep my involvement with the RCSW and AARC throughout my career and through retirement. I look forward to this journey and feel I have found a second family, and it’s with the RCSW and the AARC.

Diamond Nogueira is a student in the RC program at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, WA. and will graduate in June, 2016.  She was a student guest at the AARC House of Delegates meeting after being selected to the AARC/HOD Student Mentorship Program.

RCSW Puget Sound Chapter Social December 3, 2015

The RCSW Puget Sound Chapter invites all to a social/speaker presentation event On Thursday, December 3rd, 4:30-7:00pm at McMenamins Six Arms - map

Topic: Sharing of Best Practices - Intergenerational communication in the workplace

Presenter: Brett Thomazin, Harborview Medical Center Manager of Respiratory Care and Sleep Lab

 McMenamins Six Arms
300 E. Pike  St.
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 223-1698

Please mark your calendar
RSVP to  ldwilson@uw.edu

RCSW accepting Applications for House of Delegates Student Mentorship Program

Apply by September 15th to be a student invitee to the House of Delegate's Meeting in Tampa Florida on November 5th and 6th, 2015

The Respiratory Care Society of Washington (RCSW) Student Engagement Committee is pleased to invite a student in good standing the opportunity to attend the House of Delegate (HOD) meeting to be held in Tampa Florida November 5-6, 2015. The HOD is composed of representatives from each chartered affiliate and is tasked to adopt such rules, regulations, policies and procedures with respect to the House as it may deem necessary or appropriate.

If nominated the RCSW will provide you up to 4 nights’ lodging, round trip airfare, and per-diem expenses for the Fall HOD meeting in Tampa, FL on November 5 and 6, 2015. You will get to meet some of the legends in our field; people you have or will read about in AARC publications, authors of textbooks and guides, and members of the AARC BOD.

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