THE RESPIRATORY TRACT

Transcription

1 MARCH / APRIL 2016 VOL. 36 ISSUE 88 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT CONTENTS: President s Desk Springfield Report 2016 ISRC Exhibit Medicare Telehealth Parity Act ILLINOIS SOCIETY FOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRESENTS JUNE 1, 2, 3, 2016 DRURY LANE CONFERENCE CENTER, OAK BROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS ISRC S BIGGEST EDUCATION AND EXHIBITION SHOW OF THE YEAR! SAVE THE DATE REGISTER NOW! See page 5 for more information EDUCATION EXHIBITS AWARDS & RECOGNITION ENTERTAINMENT SPUTUM BOWL PRIZES NETWORKING FOOD & FRIENDS isrc.org

2 THE INSIDE TRACT News & Upcoming Events THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org Visit aarc.org and isrc. org for the latest information on upcoming events and educational offerings. SAVE THE DATE: ISRC 48th Annual Conference & Exhibition: IN A GALAXY NOT FAR AWAY... RESPIRATORY CARE, A NEW HOPE! June 1-3, 2016 at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Registration is open at isrc.org! THE RESPIRATORY TRACT Published bimonthly. The closing date for the editorial and advertisement printed material is the tenth day of the even number months. The Respiratory Tract will accept all manuscripts for review. Once published, the article becomes the property of ISRC and may not be published elsewhere without the permission of both author and editor. Opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of ISRC. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and space. CIRCULATION All members of the ISRC receive the TRACT. It is also circulated to RC department directors in Illinois. Annual subscriptions are $20. Change of address notices should be sent to: ISRC Office P.O. Box Springfield, IL Include name changes as well as both old and new addresses. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT isrc.org COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR Craig Leonard cleonard@isrc.org MEDICAL ADVISORS David West MD Lisa Wolfe MD Carl Kaplan MD THE RESPIRATORY TRACT Official Publication of the ISRC Published by the Illinois Society for Respiratory Care ISRC President Mr. Brian Lawlor inaugurating the annual family night of Malayali Association of Respiratory Care (MARC), by lighting the traditional lamp. See page 3 for more information on this event. SAVE THE DATE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR Chapter 4 ISRC Conference April 15th, :30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Modern RT headlines Sarah Bush Lincoln Education Center 6 CRCEs Respiratory Therapists / 6 CEUs Nurses (pending approval) CONFERENCE LINE-UP Abnormal Emergency Room Presentations Medical Marijuana for the Pulmonary Patient Organ Donation and the Respiratory Therapy Role Creating a Culture of Safety Ambulating Mechanically Ventilated Patients The Role of Respiratory Therapy and Air Transport Visit isrc.org for Registration Welcome New AARC Members The ISRC and Chapter 2 Presents A CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP ON ADULT CRITICAL CARE Saturday, April 2, 2016 At Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Auditorium 25 N. Winfield Road Winfield, IL Enter Auditorium through Main Hospital Entrance Affiliate of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE Publication Design Streamline Communications Corp. Tom Badagliacco tbadagliacco@sbcglobal.net DECEMBER Sydney Price Karl Gompertz Brittney Tribble Tiffany Fordson Fayaz Gulamani Marie Spitzer Jeanne Hanneman Final Fall semester students of 2015 with faculty, St. Augustine College, Chicago. 2 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

3 THE PRESIDENT S DESK Brian Lawlor, MS, RRT, RCP Welcome Readers A Lighting of the Lamp and A Look to the Future Brian Lawlor MS, RRT, RCP ISRC President In January I was the Guest of Honor at the annual Malayalee Association of Respiratory Care s (MARC) family fun night. The organization s purpose is to promote friendship, charity, and education for Respiratory Therapists, and their families, who are from the Malayalee region of southern India that reside in Illinois. The meeting s purpose was to introduce the new officers and for family members to provide entertainment through dancing and singing acts. ISRC President Mr. Brian Lawlor inaugurating the annual family night of Malayali Association of Respiratory Care (MARC), by speaking and lighting the traditional lamp. Pursue Advanced Credentials As the Guest of Honor I spoke to the group on the significance of pursuing advanced credentials. I also addressed the relationship of the ISRC to the AARC and the NBRC which many therapists get confused. I also encouraged them how important it is to become members of the AARC and how this benefits the profession. Plus, the benefits they receive by becoming a member are important as well. I am also excited for the ISRC Annual Program that is set for June 1-3, 2016 in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Please submit your request for time off now to your supervisor so you can be in attendance for another top flight quality program. This year s program is a Star Wars theme entitled, IN A GALAXY NOT FAR AWAY... RESPIRATORY CARE, A NEW HOPE!...one of the primary purposes of the ISRC is to encourage, develop and provide educational programs. Finally, one of the primary purposes of the ISRC is to encourage, develop and provide educational programs for those persons interested in the field of Respiratory Care. So I encourage you to please check the Upcoming Events Calendar on the ISRC website at Several of the chapters around the state will be providing daylong educational events with a variety of topics related to Respiratory Care! 3 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

4 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT SPRINGFIELD REPORT By Terry Steczo, Government Strategy Associates It s The Same Old Song It could have been better. It could have been worse. It could have given a glimpse of hope. And it could have been a more definitive, especially with the dramatic service and employee cutback announcement the prior weekend from Lutheran Social Services (LSSI). LSSI is, or should I say was, the largest statewide social services provider in Illinois. That circumstance alone should have prompted an immediate push to end the seemingly never-ending budget stalemate. But while the rhetoric was measurably softer, the bottom line taken from Governor s State of the State message is that it was more of the same as it has been since July... no budget or revenue discussions until his agenda gets addressed first. In the weeks leading up to the speech the Governor shot so many slings and arrows at the Democratic legislative leadership that expectations of anything positive in his State of the State speech and any hope for a sign of compromise were low. To his credit, the Governor's speech rhetoric was far tamer than expected, and to that extent was a breath of fresh air. And he even suggested a few areas (workers compensation and pension reform) where bipartisan compromise was possible on his Turnaround Agenda issues. But, as has been the case with the Governor during the past year, he has the penchant to douse hope by placing conditions, sometimes subtle, on his willingness to negotiate. During the week prior to the speech there was an item in Capitol Fax blog that sought to quantify the Governor s Turnaround Agenda. Information received from the Governor s office suggested that the revenue from economic growth would total $220+ million in one detail and $510 million in another section... either of them being paltry sums considering the state's deplorable and worsening fiscal condition and the tumult that has been created in the seven months without a state budget. The Governor s report also shows savings in other areas that most assuredly could be accomplished through administrative and other noncontroversial statutory changes, but to have waged war for such apparently minor gain may have everyone scratching their heads before it s over. A second, glaring inconsistency in the Governor s proposals related to his education proposals to increase state aid to schools while freezing local property taxes. It s admirable to seek an increase in school funding for elementary and secondary education but that obviously can t be done without a major influx in state revenue and the Governor has been silent about that with the exception of comments about the possibility of raising taxes once his agenda has been successfully enacted. If local property taxes are frozen before additional state revenues are in place to offset the loss of local funds then schools may be pushed over the cliff like social service providers and higher education institutions. When asked about the continuing stalemate last week the Governor said, Change takes time. Nothing important, nothing transformative comes quickly or easily. But let s hope that a final solution it comes sooner rather than later because the rupture in state services caused by the current budget impasse may be incurable. 4 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

5 ILLINOIS SOCIETY FOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRESENTS JUNE 1, 2, 3, 2016 DRURY LANE CONFERENCE CENTER, OAK BROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS EDUCATION EXHIBITS AWARDS & RECOGNITION ENTERTAINMENT SPUTUM BOWL PRIZES NETWORKING FOOD & FRIENDS YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ISRC 48th Annual Conference! The Illinois Society for Respiratory Care and the Program Committee proudly invite you to participate in the 48th Annual Conference and Exhibition; the ISRC s biggest educational show of the year. Respiratory Care Practitioners and other healthcare providers will gather in Oak Brook Terrace for In a Galaxy Not Far Away... Respiratory Care, A New Hope! For three days you will enjoy education, exhibits, awards and recognitions, contests with prizes, entertainment, networking, food and friends. EXCITING TOPICS TO BE PRESENTED: Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way! The Role of the RCP Educator in Preparing Medically Complex Children for Home: The Use of Heliox to Treat Influenza Related Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Reperfusion Injury Patient Ventilator Asynchrony: Impact on Patient Outcome Ventilator Associated Events and the Development of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Children in Shock: Are You Ready for the Real PEDIATRIC SHOCK and Awe? Can You Hear It? New Advances in Acoustic Airway Clearance 9 Weird Things Keeping You Up at Night SUBJECT EXPERTS WHO ARE LEADERS IN RESPIRATORY CARE: Kenneth Thigpen, BS, RRT, FAARC Robert Kacmarek, Ph.D, RRT, FAARC Jillyan Iwinski, MBA, RRT Thomas Pater BS, CCP, LP Sherwin E. Morgan, RRT, RCP Beverly Lullo MS RRT NPS Paul N. Severin MD, FAAP Michael Mc Peck, RRT Kelly Glazer Baron, PhD, MPH, C.BSM More topics and speakers to be added soon. Visit for more updates SAVE THE DATE REGISTER NOW! Visit and fill out the on-line registration form CONTACT INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION: Audrea Hardwicks-Williams EXHIBITS: Larry Dastych MEMBERSHIP/REGISTRATION: Douglas McQueary THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

6 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT Insufficient Sleep Common Among US Adults, CDC Report Finds The Wall Street Journal (2/18, A3, McKay, Subscription Publication) reports that, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report revealing that about one-third of adults in the US appear to be getting insufficient sleep. The AP (2/18, Stobbe) reports that South Dakota has the largest proportion of residents who get at least seven hours of sleep each night, while Hawaii has the lowest proportion. After surveying some 444,000 US adults in 2014, the CDC also found that while two-thirds of white people nationally got enough sleep, only about half of blacks, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders did. Also covering the story are Reuters (2/18, McKay), the CBS News (2/18, Marcus) website, CNN (2/18, Manella), the NPR (2/18, Chen) Shots blog, the Huffington Post (2/18, Almendrala), STAT (2/18, Thielking), US News & World Report (2/18, Schroeder), HealthDay (2/18, Thompson), and AFP-Relaxnews (2/19). The NBC News (2/18, Fox) website quotes the CDC report, which said, Sleeping less than seven hours per night is associated with increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, frequent mental distress, and all-cause mortality. With all our heart. With all our mind. We re e committed to the well-being of others. At Mercy Health System,, an award-winning, fully integrated healthcare delivery network serving southern Wisconsin, our mission is healing in the broadest sense. We achieve this by committing to the highest standards of quality care, compassion, and innovation. With all our heart, with all our minds, we ensure that others achieve maximum wellness. So can you, in this promising role: PART-TIME RESPIRATORY THERAPIST SIGN-ON BONUS AVAILABLE! Based at Mercy Harvard Hospital, Harvard, IL & working at Mercy Walworth Hospital in Lake Geneva, WI Part-time Days: 32 Hours/Week Wisconsin & Illinois Licenses Required Essentialss include graduation from an approved respiratory therapist program, an associate s s degree or equivalent, registered status or registry eligibility, respiratory licensure in WI and IL, ability to pass the WI and IL Health Care Workers Background Check, and CPR certification. Call requirement: you must live within a one-hour drive of both locations. In addition to opportunities to learn, grow, and advance, Mercy Health System offers health and dental insurance, vacation, matched retirement savings, and more. Apply at: EOE&AA/M/F/Vet/Disabled PALOS IS One of a Kind. Palos Community Hospital has gone above and beyond to change the healthcare experience. With change, comes expansion and opportunity. Join our team today, where we offer our employees everything they need to succeed. Registered Respiratory Therapist Part-Time, Nights (40 hours/pay period) Palos Community Hospital Aren t You? Under direct supervision of the shift supervisor, administers therapeutic modalities for the treatment of pulmonary disorders, evaluates patient progress for review by the Coordinator of Respiratory Care and the Medical Staff. Must be a graduate of an AMA approved school/program for the study of Respiratory Care and currently registered with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Current licensure by the State of Illinois as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Current CPR certification. Visit our website where we welcome you to find more details and apply online. We offer a friendly environment where growth opportunities and excellent compensation and benefits are available. Palos Community Hospital S. 80th Ave., Palos Heights, IL EOE 6 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

7 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT Medicare Telehealth Parity Act The Time for Action is Now! Lisa Zaenger, RRT, RCP (Co-Chair of AARC PACT for IL) All Respiratory Care areas are looking for ways to reduce re-admissions and educate our patients with lung disease in administration of medication and wellness. The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act presents a way to follow the care and education of these patients through remote technology. Medicare Teleheath Parity Act HR 2948 was introduced in the House by Rep Mike Thompson [CA] on July 7th, It has subsequently been referred to the Subcommittee on Health [Energy and Commerce Committee] and referred to House Ways and Means Committee. What is the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act? For many years the American Association for Respiratory Care Political Action Team (AARC PACT) has been working towards getting respiratory therapists recognized by Medicare Part B to provide reimbursable services for our patients. For many years, the AARC and state Respiratory Therapy Societies have been working together sending state Respiratory Therapy representatives to Washington DC to make congressional visits. During Patti Baltisberger, these visits, we voice support for important bills that affect RRT, RCP. BHS patients and our respiratory care profession. The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act HR 2948, recognizes licensed Respiratory Therapists (RT) as qualified telehealth practitioners along with other allied health providers such as Certified Diabetes Educators, Audiologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists. This bill is has three parts that are phased in over time. One of the key elements of the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act (MTPA) is to add incremental coverage for remote patient monitoring services for patients with chronic conditions. This is defined as, evaluation and management of a patient through the use of a system of technology that allows a remote interface to collect and transmit clinical data between the individual and responsible physician or practitioner or supplier. COPD is one of three conditions covered under this section of the bill. By adding respiratory therapy services as a covered telehealth service for Medicare patients, RT s could provide prescribed services within their scope of practice as deemed medically necessary. This presents a great opportunity for RT s to help prevent hospital readmissions through telehealth patient management. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought about the establishing of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. In 2012, it became a requirement to reduce payments to hospitals with excess readmissions of patients with certain diagnoses (MI, CHF and Pneumonia) within 30 days of discharge. In accordance with this Medicare (CMS) program, the applicable conditions expanded in CMS FY 2015 to include patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The passage of MPTA gives Respiratory Therapists and other ancillary professionals a reimbursable way to educate patients, helping them to increase their self management skills, by providing services over home electronic devices such as a computer, tablet or smart phone. Continued on page 8 Patients, caregivers and healthcare providers are invited to join the American Lung Association to learn about the latest treatments, resources and research to help those living with lung disease lead healthier, active lives. Space is limited! MAY 4, 2016 Nationally Presented By: National Education Sponsor: DRURY LANE THEATRE & CONVENTION CENTER Wednesday, May 4, 2016 Professional Education Program 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Patient/Caregiver Education Program 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Professional Program Registration Reserve your spot(s) today no later than April 29th Register ONLINE at or CALL THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016

8 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT Medicare Telehealth Parity Act The Time for Action is Now! Continued from page 7 Other key aspects of this bill are that it would add the patient s home as a telehealth site with respect to certain home health services of which durable medical equipment (DME) is listed. This provision of the bill may potentially open new opportunities for RT s who work for DME suppliers. It also expands originating sites (where a patient is located) to larger metropolitan service areas beyond those that current rural telehealth services now cover. This will expand the number of Medicare beneficiaries who can access these new telehealth services if the bill is passed. On the AARC website in their Action Alert information on MTPA they so aptly state, The bill is important to all respiratory therapists because it offers a broader reach of services and a new way to deliver them that are not currently available to Medicare pulmonary patients. Permitting more options of where, when and how respiratory therapists can provide services opens doors for everyone s future and the respiratory profession overall. Last year in March 2015, Patti Baltisberger and I represented the state of Illinois at the annual AARC PACT meeting. This was Patti s first year to attend. She relates her experience as follows: In March of 2015 I had the extreme pleasure of making my first trip to Washington D.C. to lobby for Respiratory Care and the AARC support of the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. Lisa Zaenger, RRT was at my side with her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to guide me in this first journey. Excitement stirred everyone the night before we GET ON THE INSIDE TRACT TRACT MATERIAL SUBMISSION DATES went to see our Representatives on the Hill. We came from all over the nation and met with the common goal of promoting Respiratory Care through this Bill. Those who were familiar with the AARC Capital Hill Day were more than supportive by sharing and tips and stories with those of us new to the experience. All of our nation s Representatives were welcoming and listened attentively as we shared the reasons we presented on behalf of our patients Permitting more options of where, when and how respiratory therapists can provide services opens doors for everyone s future and the respiratory profession overall. and Professional RTs. Many shared that they had family members who suffered with chronic respiratory diseases and could relate to the need for extensions of Respiratory Care. There was a thrill around each corner as I walked the halls of our national government buildings where we were heard and respected by the officials and left knowing we do make a difference. As Patti states, it was invigorating to meet with so many passionate RT s from all across the country in DC. That collaboration and resultant connections are invaluable! We didn t have a bill number yet when we were there in March 2015 but we knew that Congressman Thompson {CA} would be re-introducing this legislation in the new Congress. This gave us the starting point from which we Please Submit News and Advertisements 25 Days Prior to Publication May/Jun 2016 Issue: Submit by April 5, 2016 July/Aug 2016 Issue: Submit by June 5, 2016 Sept/Oct 2016 Issue: Submit by August 5, 2016 Nov/Dec 2016 Issue: Submit by October 5, 2016 For more information contact Craig Leonard: cleonard@isrc.org started our discussions in each congressional office. It was so great to have Patti s expertise in the Hill meetings to relay how the expansion of telehealth services will help our patients! Where is the Medicare Telehealth Parity Bill (HR 2948) now? It is being reviewed by congressional Health Subcommittees of both the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees in Washington DC. We are lucky in Illinois to have representation on both of these Health Subcommittees. Currently there are 26 co-sponsors of HR2948 but we need to get more! We have one co-sponsor from IL (Congressman Bobby Rush IL 1) but we have 17 more congressional representatives in our state. We need to encourage all of them to become co-sponsors of this important legislation. It is vitally important to make sure that your congressional representatives/senators know that you support this type of legislation! One of the ways to do this is to go to and click on Resources (on the toolbar). Then click on AARC Capitol Connection. This will get you to the place where you can send your to your congressional representatives. The AARC has already created templates for respiratory therapists, RT students, patients, caregivers/family and one for supporters/friends of the respiratory profession. So, there is a template there for just about anyone who wants to send their support . All you have to do is click on the template, type in your sender information and one last click on send message will your congressional representative and both IL senators! It s that easy to make your voice heard! Our Washington DC trip this year will be April 11-13, The AARC will again sponsor a Virtual Lobby Week (the week before the trip) where we will be asking all of our Illinois RT s to send s via the AARC Capitol Connection site to their congressional representatives asking them to support HR 2948 Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. If you have any questions on this bill, what it covers or how to send your letters of support, please go to the AARC website ( click on Advocacy for more information. Thank you in advance for sending your support s and spreading the word to your colleagues, co-workers, friends and patients. Let s make a difference! 8 THE RESPIRATORY TRACT isrc.org March/April 2016