AARC Membership

When you join the AARC and your membership address is in the state of Washington, you automatically become a member of the RCSW.  If you aren't a member, please consider joining ... you'll become part of the only organization in the state of Washington whose primary purpose is serving the concerns of the Respiratory Care professional.

More members mean more opportunities for us to deliver better education, better management tools, and better communication and information resources for everyone. More members allow us to lead change on a national and state level for better patient care through advocacy and education.

BAS in Allied Health Degree Approved at Seattle Central College

I just returned from the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges meeting where they voted unanimously to approve the Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Allied Health at Seattle Central Community College. The degree will initially house four tracks; Respiratory Care, Dental Hygiene (starting next year) Community Health and Education and Health Services Management (Starting in the near future). The Respiratory Care program at Seattle Central is in the process of transitioning to this degree and will accept the first cohort to enter the degree in Fall 2014. This degree approval brings the existing RCP program up to the baccalaureate level as well as opens up opportunities for credentialed working professionals to complete a baccalaureate degree.

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Spirometry Course Offering Through the UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences

NIOSH-Approved Spirometry training courses offered at the University of Washington (UW) incorporate the most recent American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) spirometry requirements and testing procedures.

For Complete information please clink on the link:

https://osha.washington.edu/coursedetail.cfm?courseid=3132

Highline College names Carl Hinkson 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award winner

Highline Community College on Thursday (June 13) named Carl Hinkson – respiratory therapist and manager of Haborview Medical Center’s Respiratory Care department – its 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award winner for his “substantial contributions and success in the respiratory care profession.”

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Scholarship Recipients Announced at the 40th Annual RCSW State Conference

Join the RCSW in congratulating the recipients of the Respiratory Care Society of Washington Advanced Degree and Two Year Scholarships for 2013: Brandi Muilenberg, RRT; Jen Petlig, RRT; Justin Graham, RRT-NPS, AE-C; Bill Middlebrook, Tacoma CC; Randy Hathaway, PIMA; Aya Kikuchi, Spokane CC; Farnooch Rahmani, Seattle Central CC; and Lucy Kiruki, Highline CC.

The Ben and Bonnie Benson Advanced Degree Scholarship was established this year by Michael and Kathy Benson in honor of his parents, Ben and Bonnie. Michael "Benny" Benson was instrumental in ground breaking auto-PEEP research in the 1980's and is a retired Clinical Specialist/RCP from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The Mike Sipes Foundation Advanced Degree Scholarship was also established this year. Mike Sipes was a Respiratory Care Department Manager at Virginia Mason and a Clinical Specialist at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Mike had a passion for the advancement of Respiratory Care and to that end, his wife, Cindy, and daughter, Michelle, established the Mike Sipes Foundation to continue his support.

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The Drive4COPD Challenge

Calling on all Respiratory Therapists in Washington State!  We have been challenged by the AARC and the COPD Foundation to get at least 467 COPD screeners completed  by November 8^th.

The DRIVE4COPD is a public health initiative that aims to raise public awareness of COPD utilizing Respiratory Therapist to interact with the community and survey people 35 years or older.

Please consider adopting a company and utilizing the paper COPD screeners.  Or  provide COPD screeners at a local event.  Please visit the AARC’s website for more information and if you would like some ideas or assistance please call or email Linda Wilson.  Linda can be reached at 206 744-3507 or ldwilson@uw.edu and she would love to hear what you might be planning!

We do have a  tentative date at the Puyallup Fair scheduled for September 12^th  (need a few volunteers) , but we need each of you to consider participation in adopting a company or a local event. We can do this but we need to start today! 

What is adopt a company about?

Message from the Washington State Department of Health

In 2012 the Legislature passed ESHB 2366 “The Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management Training Act of 2012” now RCW43.70.442. The law requires that certain professions are trained in the assessment, treatment and management of potentially suicidal individuals. The law also requires that a study be conducted to help answer several questions about suicide education and prevention. Questions include what is the current level of training that healthcare professionals receive regarding suicide and which healthcare professions might best impact potentially suicidal individuals? ...

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We are heading for DC....Please send letters to your legislatures

http://www.aarc.org/advocacy/lobby_week/

40th Annual RCSW State Conference Agenda Available

Please see the attached brochure for the 40th Annual Pacific Northwest Regional Respiratory Care Conference and Scientific Assembly

Register Here