Adult Acute Care Section Chair
Kyle Hitchens
Respiratory Care Manager
Christiana Care
Member Since: 2013
HOD Activities:
- Delegate, Delaware Society for Respiratory Care, 2016-2020
Related Organizations:
- Certified Basic Life Support Instructor, American Heart Association 2016-2022
Education:
- BS, RRT-ACCS, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 2013.
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend to address it?
Personally, I believe that there are two main issues that need to be addressed, which both focus on the therapist. The first being acquiring new therapists into the profession, and the second being retention. This needs to be addressed on a multifaceted level. It begins with school-aged individuals who are still deciding what track it is they want to take when it comes to education and a possible profession. More recruitment at this stage could encourage young minds. Going into local schools and holding recruitment events would be one way to address this need. Retaining our current therapists is another, equally difficult challenge that begins with coworkers and managers and extends upwards to the healthcare system in general. Leadership being present and actively listening to understand difficulties bedside practitioners are facing is imperative. It is then just as important to act on these problems and try to find a resolution.
What ideas do you have to help todays Respiratory Therapist recover from the pandemic and what do you feel is the main issue Respiratory Care Practitioners are facing, and what key solutions should be addressed to support our profession?
COVID has undeniably accelerated burnout in the medical profession in general. I also believe that it has brought some underlying inadequacies to the forefront, and it is now our job to address these issues. In any role, the professional will be more confident and fulfilled if they are practicing to their full ability. Placing therapists in positions where they will be most efficient is of vital importance. This may require a realignment of the workforce to focus on the tasks that will bring about the most positive outcome. These include assessing and evaluating patients in the ED, vent management and liberation in the ICU, RRT, and code blue teams. In order to obtain this, it may require delegating some current tasks to other individuals within the health care system.
Role-Specific Questions:
Value of this section is important. If given the opportunity to represent, what would you do to increase the value to this section and how would you increase section membership?
I believe that both membership recruitment and increasing value of this section originate from a similar position. The value in the section is the resources it brings members. Members have the opportunity to be saturated in expert knowledge, and professional community feedback that they can then bring back to their community to implement. These include policy guidance, leadership, protocols. A good section is the byproduct of valuable resources and networking which I am willing to put in the time and effort to contribute towards.
