Director-at-large
Jacklyn Grimball
BlueChoice HealthPlan/BCBS
Clinical Program/Account Manager DM, CM, and UM
Member Since: 1985
AARC Activities:
- AARC Program Committee, 2021 – Present
- AARC BOD, 2021 – 2022
- AARC BOD, Vice President of External Affairs, 2020-2021 (Appointed by AARC President)
- AARC BOD, Director-at-Large, 2019–2020
- AARC Finance Audit Sub-Committee, Chair, 2015
- AARC Cultural Diversity Committee member, 2015-Present
- AARC Elections Committee, 2012–2014, Chair 2014
HOD Activities:
- AARC House of Delegates, Past-Speaker/BOD Liaison 2017–2019
- AARC House of Delegates, Speaker, 2016 • AARC House of Delegates, Speaker-Elect, 2015
- AARC Finance Audit Sub-Committee, Chair, 2015
- AARC Cultural Diversity Committee member, 2015
- AARC Elections Committee, 2012–2014, Chair 2014.
- Co-Chair, Chartered Affiliate/Special Recognition Committee, AARC HOD, 2011–2014
- Chair, Chartered Affiliate Committee, AARC HOD, 2010–2011
- AARC Delegate, South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care, 2008–2015
Affiliate Activities:
- South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care, AARC Delegate, 2008–2015
- South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care, Board of Directors, Member 2002–2015
- Chair, Health Promotion/Public Relations Committee, South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care 2006–2008
- President, Board of Directors, South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care, 2005–2006
- President Elect, Board of Directors, South Carolina Society for Respiratory Care, 2004- 2005
Related Organizations:
- Board of Directors, American Lung Association of the Southeast, Charleston, SC, 2012–2017
- Nurse Asthma Care Education (NACE) Trainer, 2007
- President Board of Directors, American Lung Association of South Carolina, Midlands Chapter, 2002–2004
- South Carolina Asthma Alliance, Executive Committee, 2001–2013
- Secretary Board of Directors, American Lung Association of South Carolina, Midlands Chapter, 2000–2002
Education:
- FAARC, Fellow American Association for Respiratory Care, 2017
- PAHM, Managed HealthCare Professional, 2013
- AE-C, Certified Asthma Educator, #0278, 2003
- South Carolina Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner, # 56,
- Registered Respiratory Therapist, #24852
- Professional, Academy for Healthcare Management, The Academy for Healthcare Management and America’s Health Insurance Plans, December 30, 2013. Managed Healthcare Professional (PAMH)
- M.A. Business, Webster University, Columbia, South Carolina, 1999. Concentration: Health Administration
- B.S. Health, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 1994. Concentrations: Health Education and Health Administration
- A.S. Respiratory Therapy, Midlands Technical College, Columbia, South Carolina, 1979
Publications:
- AARC Times. August 2010. The Big Insurer Perspective. p. 66 – 67.
- Getting Ready for College, Allergy and Asthma Health, Summer 2015, http://yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/aah/07.15/articles/college/index.html. Author
- Does My Chronic Cough Mean I Have Asthma? Summer 2016. Author
- AARC Times. March 2017. Discrimination Against the Caregiver. p. 25 – 27.
Elections Committee Questions:
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the AARC and what do you recommend to address it?
When I am asked what my profession is, and I tell people I am a Registered Respiratory Therapist, they ask “what is that and what do you do?” I think the biggest challenge currently facing the AARC is the lack of recognition of our profession. The AARC has recently taken steps to increase our recognition by working with the NBRC and CoARC on an ad campaign to bring awareness to the respiratory therapy profession. The AARC will need every respiratory therapist to support the campaign in the coming years. I would also recommend partnering with other clinical professions such as physicians, nurses, physician assistants, etc. to support and advocate for our profession. During the peak of the pandemic RTs were mentioned occasionally. Our time for recognition is now. RTs must be part of the interdisciplinary clinical team and each of us should strive to be a part of that team. RTs must be at the table when patient care is being discussed. If we are not at the table, we’re on the menu.
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than ever. What do you feel is the main issue Respiratory Care Practitioners are facing, and what are the key solutions that you feel should be addressed to support our profession?
The main issue Respiratory Care Practitioners are currently facing along with recognition is promoting our profession. To appropriately promote our profession respiratory therapists should possess at least a bachelor’s degree as entry level to the profession and RRT credentials. The RT profession needs this change to be considered as a health care professional by CMS. Each of us must do our part in promoting our profession. We should represent respiratory care at the legislative level by participating in all AARC’s lobby days and PACT week to support any legislation positively recognizing RTs. We must recruit students to the profession to keep the profession strong and viable. All RTs should strive to work to the fullest extent of our license. We must advocate and promote the profession to fellow therapists to become members of the AARC and to be involved in the mission and vision. RTs should collaborate with other healthcare professionals and organizations for support and advocacy.
Role-Specific Questions:
Your role as Director-at-large is to represent the general AARC membership. If given the opportunity to represent, how would you use your skills and experience to advance and advocate for the respiratory care profession?
My strongest skills are organizing, planning and managing. I have experience in management and leadership, project development and management in both the clinical and business side of health care. I would use all of these skills to create and take on programs/project “outside of the box” of traditional respiratory care. In order to advance and advocate for the respiratory care profession, I feel we (the AARC BOD) should provide more outreach and information to our state-chartered affiliates. Information exchange regarding promoting, advancing and advocating for the profession should not only be shared with the affiliate President and President-Elect, but with each states’ Board of Directors. I think the Directors-at-Large can take on the role of assisting the AARC President and President-Elect by participating in virtual meetings with state-affiliates’ BOD. The AARC is only as good as the state-affiliates and vice-versa. Seamless communication is key to a successful organization.
