Upcoming Pulmonary Health Seminar

The Pulmonary Health Seminar will take place: September 20, 2008 at 0730 in the Marsh Auditorium. Several excellent speakers are scheduled to present including the following:

M. Douglas Mullins, MD
Interventional Bronchoscopy Case presentations

Bonnie Entwistle, RN, BSN
EtCO2 Monitoring During Procedural Sedation

Rita Allen, RN BSN
Methods to decrease infection rates in a critical care unit.

Gifford Lorenz, MD.
Pulmonary Exercise Testing: Why do it and what the numbers mean.


Paul Garbarini, MS, RRT
Are your patients at risk?

This program has been approved for 6.25 contact hours Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 100 Irving, TX 75063

This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Georgia Nurses Association, an accrediated approver by the American Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. 6.2 contact hours.

The Pulmonary Health Seminar will be free to all St. Joseph’s/Candler Health Employees, but pre-registration will be required by all attendees.

Clinical Ladder Program

Clinical Career Ladder

Any respiratory therapist may apply for acceptance into the Clinical ladder program. The respiratory therapist will be responsible to determine for which level he/she qualifies based on the ‘Universal and Rung Specific Requirements’

Universal requirements:
Current BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP
AARC membership
Prior Annual evaluation score = successful or outstanding
Completion of annual competency program
Competency exam score of 85% or higher
Participation in at least two approved department Performance Improvement Projects
(large PI projects may be shared by multiple therapists with Clinical Ladder Committee approval)
No written disciplinary actions within the prior year.

Rung 1
Min. CRT/CRTT
Experience > 1 yr w/ SJCHS
CEUS/ year 18
Skills: Trained for adult and neonatal intubation, assist with two departmental performance improvement projects.

Rung 2
Min. CRT + 1 additional certification (RRT, CPFT, RFPT, Perinatal/Pedi/,AC-E
Experience > 2 years w/ SJCHS
CEU/Year 21
Projects: assist w/ two department performance improvement projects plus one program from the list below
Skills: Successful demonstration of Arterial line insertion, intubation, ICU trained or Peds/L&D/Nsy trained.

Rung 3
Min RRT + 1 additional certification
(CPFT, RPFT, Perinatal/Pedi, AE-C
CEUs/Year; 25
Skills: Advanced airway management, assist bedside bronchoscopy, hemodynamic course completion, ekg class completion
Project: two programs form the list

The Clinical Ladder Program is designed to recognize and reward licensed Respiratory Therapist, practicing at the bedside, as clinical and professional excellence is achieved. The applicant must be employed on a full or part-time (>30/wk) basis at St. Joseph’s/Candler 1 year prior to applying to the Clinical ladder. The applicant must have been employment by Candler Health System within the Respiratory Therapy Department.