CSRT News

November 2011
Keeping members current on issues that matter

CSRT Membership Renewal Starts December 1^st!

Annual CSRT membership renewal is just around the corner. Current members will be receiving updated information on fees via email in the next few weeks. Updated information is available on the CSRT website.

CSRT Provides Affordable Professional Liability Insurance to Members.
Do you have adequate professional liability insurance? Respiratory therapists should pay attention to their comprehensive group-insurance program offered by employers. The extent of professional liability and legal defence coverage offered by most institutions is limited. Hospital PLI is in place to firstly protect the hospital, with individuals, like RTs, represented “en bloc” with all other defendants. Also, employer PLI may not covere a hearing at a regulatory college or attendance at a coroner’s inquest. Having personal professional liability, such as that offered by the CSRT, ensures that you can have a lawyer representing your interest in any legal proceeding. An adverse event can have significant financial implications if you suddenly find yourself with inadequate coverage. Protect yourself professionally. Check your coverage!

Sleep Centers of Excellence Conference February 8-10, 2012

As the demand for state-of-the-art comprehensive sleep centers grows more healthcare providers are looking for advances in technology, advances in patient care and a true multidisciplinary approach to handle this need. This three-day event, held in Atlanta, Georgia, addresses: quality assurance programs, improving patient care management, achieving autonomy within your organization, recruiting top academic talent and much more. Discounted registration is offered for CSRT members.

Details at: http://www.rtsleepworld.com/sites/default/files/active_comm_feb_dates_pdf.pdf

Critical Care Canada Forum Discussion Group

A new multi-disciplinary critical care forum has been created to discuss issues related to critical care.

To join go to: http://groups.google.com/group/critical-care-canada/t/45dc88cab78f4419

Left to right - Jackie Kennedy, Susan Haskell, Mary Connors, Sharmaine Clarke

Huffin’ Puffin Marathon Relay

Eastern Health and The Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association recently partnered up to help raise awareness of Lung Health and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. They sponsored a 4-person team of runners for the annual Huffin’ Puffin Marathon Relay. CSRT member Susan Haskell was part of the Love Your Lungs team. They completed the 42.2 km course in September, along with some 350+ runners participating in one of three simultaneous events – a half marathon, full marathon, and marathon relay. The Huffin’ Puffin event was organized by Nautilus Running Club.

Save the Date! CSRT Education Conference
May 30 to June 2, 2012

The CSRT Education Conference will take place at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in beautiful Vancouver, BC.
The CSRT has arranged for a limited number of discounted rooms at the Westin.
Reservations can be made through the CSRT website – under Events.

All Conference details can be found at: http://www.csrt.com/en/events/2012_conference.asp

Respiratory Therapists Week

At Horizon Health in Miramichi
(left to right) RRTs Angela Thomas, Amanda Gibson and Chantal Babineau

Respiratory Therapists Week was celebrated in style across the country. The CSRT provided promotional materials to more than 180 members. Here are some examples of how RTs promoted their profession.

Nova Scotia
The respiratory therapy staff at Miramichi Regional Hospital celebrated RT Week with an educational booth in the hospital lobby where they spoke with students, patients and co-workers about various respiratory ailments. They played the "Respiratory Therapy Week Video" from the CSRT website and distributed information about COPD, asthma and smoking cessation. The "Year's Worth of Tar" jar was a hit!

Dalhousie School of Health Sciences and The Michener Institute added a bit of extra celebration to their RT Week activities. A pizza lunch was served compliments of the CSRT. Dalhousie and Michener tied for the highest percentage of students join the CSRT between August and October of this year – approximately 14%. New Brunswick Community College and NAIT each won a set of Dana Oakes books.

Dalhousie show they were Number One in student recruitment.

Amazing Pace participants: Patrick Freel, Katelyn Earle, Megan Watson,
Mirela Mehanovic and Melissa Grant.
In the front row from left to right Marcel Goure, Jamie Brownlee, Emily Pelton, Stacey Gibson, Mai Phan and Nadine Meek

Ontario
Fanshawe College RT students set up a table to promote the profession and teach prospective students about the RT program at Fanshawe. Nadine Meek, the Vice-President of the RT Student Federation also took part in a fundraising event – The Amazing Pace. As a class they raised approximately $2,000 for the Lung Association.

RRT Ron McFadyen answered questions and provided
demonstrations of spirometry, oximetry and auscultation to members of the public and staff in Drayton Valley.

Alberta
The Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre has one respiratory therapist. Despite having no budget and limited resources, RRT Ron McFadyen was very busy during RT Week. He set up a poster display at the facility with demo airways and masks. Ron held an open house and also had an article published in the local paper.

British Columbia
At the Kelowna General Hospital, RT Week was celebrated in style, with RT Manager Richard Milo offering pizza, cake and coffee throughout the entire week. Visitors were encouraged to check out the display set up by RRT Lisa Mostowy. The event was greatly supported by staff and everyone enjoyed Chinese food on the last day.

RRT Blaine Busslinger, RRT shows off the Kelowna General Hospital display

For more pictures and information on RT Week go to http://www.csrt.com/en/events/rt_week.asp