LRHS earns national recognition for quality respiratory care

La Porte Regional Health System (LRHS) earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) with a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals.

The QRCR program began with the American Association for Respiratory Care 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 hospitals or approximately 15 percent of hospitals in the nation received the award. LRHS has received the award in past years.

To qualify for the recognition, La Porte Hospital provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions: all respiratory therapists are recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services and/or credentialed; respiratory therapists are available 24 hours; the medical director of respiratory care services is a physician; and personnel supervision is designated in writing.

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 (COPD), 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.

For more information, call (219) 326-2635.