CSRT News

December 2010
Keeping members current on issues that matter

Membership Renewals

CSRT membership renewals began on December 6th. Renewals online can also include regulatory body licensing fees. Please note that any renewals after March 31, 2011 will be subject to a $15.00 late renewal fee. You can also choose to have your membership and fees automatically renewed every year. Renew your membership by March 30th, 2011 and have your name entered to win a 8GB iPod Touch. Renew at: http://www.csrt.com/en/membership/index.asp.

New Professional Liability Insurance Fees

The CSRT has once again secured new lower fees for members for 2011. In our ongoing efforts to provide value for membership – the CSRT has negotiated lower premiums for professional liability insurance, along with significant coverage enhancements. Make sure you have adequate coverage to protect yourself. A comparison chart can be found at http://www.csrt.com/en/membership/pdf/PLI_Comparison-10-11.pdf.

Mobility Agreement Implemented

The members of the National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies are pleased to announce the implementation of an Agreement for the Registration of Respiratory Therapists from Unregulated Jurisdictions. The purpose of the Agreement is to promote labour mobility and the accessibility of respiratory therapists from unregulated jurisdictions to employment opportunities in six of the seven regulated provinces in keeping with the principles of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). The Alliance membership consists of organizations that have been given the legislative authority by provinces or territories for regulating the practice of respiratory therapy in that jurisdiction and the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) representing the unregulated provinces. Details of this agreement can be found on the CSRT home page www.csrt.com.

CSRT Position Statement – Levels of Practice

The CSRT acknowledges that the practice of respiratory therapy has evolved quickly since its inception and that respiratory therapists may work in at various levels of practice. Today the profession faces many challenges, including shortages of health care professionals, an aging population, increased incidence of chronic respiratory disease, the introduction of new technology and challenges relative to patient access and the ability to provide quality and comprehensive respiratory care. Governments and health care organizations are demanding more collaborative, inter-professional and innovative respiratory care delivery systems to meet the diverse health needs of society.

As a result, the levels of practice must adapt to meet the needs of a complex health care delivery system. The CSRT has issued a position statement regarding the definition of levels of practice. You can view at http://www.csrt.com/en/professional/position_statements.asp.

Alberta Workshop - "Putting Evidence into Practice"

The University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center will host the 6th "Putting Evidence into Practice" (PEP) Workshop in Edmonton, AB, February 24 - 26, 2011. Evidence-based practice involves applying evidence to clinical and policy decision making. Critical appraisal provides the tools to assess the quality of evidence in the medical literature and to determine the risks and benefits of different management strategies. Through this transdisciplinary workshop participants will work through relevant examples in order to develop skills in searching for and identifying appropriate evidence, critically appraising the evidence, and applying the evidence to their area of expertise. A condensed three-day systematic review course is also being offered. For more information - www.pep.ualberta.ca.

CSRT Past-President Receives RTSO President’s Award

In September, Dan McPhee, CSRT Past-President was presented the RTSO President’s Award for demonstration of Professionalism Compassion and Expert Knowledge above and beyond the call of duty as a respiratory therapist. Dan, with the assistance of two nurses, revived a gentleman in the community who had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. They monitored his level of stability until an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital where he received an internal defibrillator and pacemaker. RTSO President, Rob Bryan highlighted the significance of the work of RTs and gave recognition to the important job of treating those treated.

Dan, as modest as ever, had this to say, “Not often am I short on words - but I missed an opportunity to tell our peers how lucky they are to have two great organizations out here working hard to promote and advance our profession – the RTSO and the CSRT. What I did in order to qualify to receive this award may seem like a small thing to practicing professionals - but it was everything for one man's life and his family. It can be hard for us to see that, but that is the reality behind why we are here. A last thought - let's get on the train for what we can accomplish together, rather than for where we'll be as individuals when we get off.”

Fellows of the CSRT

The first cohort of the CSRT Fellowship program was approved by the CSRT Board of Directors in November of 2010. The individuals listed below may now add FCSRT to their professional designation. Congratulations!

Daniel Adams
Gloria Agar
Jennifer Barchard
Julie Brown
Craig Campbell
Diane Collin
Angela Coxe
Stephane Delisle
Jeffrey Dmytrowich
Christina Dolgowicz
Susan Doucette
Suzane Doyon
Roberta Dubois
Doris Franklin
Neeta Fraser
Christopher Gagnon
Elizabeth Goodfellow
Chris Grant
Susan Haskell

Wrae Hill
Craig Hillier
Lise Horth Susin
Celia Hoy
Ray Hubble
Kevin Indergaard
Sue Jones
Jacob Krygier
Carole Lamothe
Susan M. Laskoski
Michael Lemphers
Sue Martin
Darren Martsinkiw
Shari McKeown
Shelley Monkman
Angela Morais
Debra Morton
Lisa Mostowy
Virginia Myles

Jason Nickerson
Susan O'Neil
Richard Paradis
Amy Reid
Bert Reket
Steve Rogers
Chantale Roy
Valerie Shaver
Allan Shemanko
Connie Sivyer
Zahra Sonawala
Kathleen Spurr
Angela Taylor
Candina Thompson
Leigh Walters
Wade Wheeler
Patricia Winton-Grey
Natalie Wood

If you submitted an application for the Fellowship designation before November 1st and have not received a reply from the CSRT, please contact us at cmenard@csrt.com