In 2020, Respiratory therapists everywhere stood strong, showing the world the vital role RTs serve in patient health. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the respiratory therapy profession to the forefront unlike any other time before.
Sadly, we’ve lost colleagues to COVID-19, as a direct result of their work with patients. To honor their sacrifice, the AARC Board of Directors created the COVID-19 RT Fund. This fund sends money to the surviving families of licensed respiratory therapists who died while caring for patients with COVID-19.
Tri-anim Health Services recently donated $5,000 to the fund on behalf of respiratory therapist across the U.S. This donation will allow us to continue to help memorialize the lives of these RTs and provide assistance to their loved ones. Generous donations like this, are what help so many find peace in a time of uncertainty. We are thankful for Tri-Anim’s dedication to the health care world and to respiratory therapists. Especially with continuing COVID-19 cases as we venture into 2021, respiratory therapists remain vital to patient care. We thank all respiratory therapist as every day they put their own lives at risk to help save others.
According to Tri-anim’s website, one of their goals is to provide “quality care to every patient in order to get patients better, faster.” This aligns with so many respiratory therapists, who selflessly serve day-in and day-out.
Through the COVID-19 RT Fund, the AARC grants $500 to the family of each licensed RT who contracted COVID-19 while working and then died from complications of the disease. Two commemorative blocks in the AARC Virtual Museum, one for the RT’s family and one for the RT’s employer, will also be donated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 2,900 health care workers have now died as a result of caring for patients with COVID-19. RTs are represented in those numbers. Since the COVID-19 RT Fund was created the AARC, with the help from companies like Tri-anim, have been able to assist 21 families of RTs who passed while working on the front lines.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
Addie Schiefer is the Content Manager for the AARC where she creates engaging content for the association via the AARC website, newsletters, and social media. Connect with her about potential stories by email, AARConnect, or LinkedIn. When she’s not working, you can find her listening to a true crime podcast, traveling to new places with her husband, hanging out with her dog JoJo, or browsing the aisles of the nearest Target.
