Des Peres Hospital Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition

Des Peres Hospital recently earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) started the QRCR program in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care.  Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.  About 700 hospital or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award.

“Des Peres Hospital is pleased to be recognized for our respiratory care services,” said John Grah, chief executive officer.  “This recognition reflects the commitment our respiratory care team makes every day to deliver quality care to our patients.”

To qualify for the recognition, Des Peres Hospital provided documentation showing it meets 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.
• 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.
• Hospital policy prohibits the routine delivery of medicated aerosol treatments utilizing small volume nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, or intermittent positive pressure treatments to multiple patients simultaneously.  Circumstances under which this practice is permitted is defined by policy.
• Des Peres Hospital periodically compares performance of the hospital’s respiratory department on efficiency and quality metrics with similar departments for the purpose of identifying and achieving best practices.

The AARC’s QRCR 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 QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines.  For a list of QRCR hospitals, visit the AARC’s consumer web site, http://www.yourlunghealth.org/finding_care/qrc/hospitals/index.cfm.

To learn more about Des Peres Hospital, visit www.despereshospital.com