Medical Center of McKinney has 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.
About 700 hospitals or approximately 15% of hospital in the United States have applied for and received this award.
The QRCR program was started by the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) 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 the respiratory care services.
To qualify for the recognition, Medical Center of McKinney, 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 a day.
- 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.
- Use a process that periodically compares performance of respiratory department on efficiency and quality metrics with similar departments for the purpose of identifying an achieving best practice.
The AARC’s ARCR program grew out of growing concern among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care series provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines.
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, 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.
Medical Center of McKinney (MCM) is a 260-bed, acute care hospital that offers comprehensive services including a Level III trauma center, cardiovascular, neurological services, general surgery, orthopedics, women’s services, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and psychiatric services. MCM is a primary stroke center and achieved the Joint Commission’s prestigious Top Performer recognition for sustaining excellence in heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. Medical Center of McKinney is an affiliate of HCA. For more information: www.medicalcenterofmckinney.com.