The AARC Congress in New Orleans is only about a month away now, and respiratory professionals from across the country and around the world are gearing up for the big event.
What will you find during this four-day educational extravaganza in your profession? The Program is full of lectures, symposiums, and original research in the form of the Open Forum. All content has been organized into tracks to make it easy for attendees to zero in on their particular areas of specialization.
But with so much to choose from, how can you know which sessions are not to be missed? Consider these recommendations from AARC Director of Education Mandy De Vries, MS-RCL/Ed, RRT, RRT-NPS —
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Valuable Tool for Respiratory Care
Presented by Lynda Goodfellow, EdD, RRT, FAARC
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1:30 p.m.-2:05 p.m.
As a profession, respiratory therapists have always been committed to providing the highest quality of care possible. Part of this commitment is ensuring that our treatments are based on the best available evidence. For more than 30 years, the AARC has been a leader in publishing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). These CPGs provide critical guidance to practitioners on the safe and effective use of various respiratory therapies. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on evidence-based care, and the AARC is at the forefront of this effort. And now, so are you!
Brain-Lung Cross Talk
Presented by Timothy Girard, MD, MSCI
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 3:00 p.m.-3:35 p.m.
Mechanical ventilation has been associated with hemodynamic complications that can lead to end-organ dysfunction. This research area is important, as understanding brain-lung cross-talk could improve treatment for patients on mechanical ventilation.
Well-Being in Respiratory Care: Drivers of Burnout & Strategies to Increase Resilience
Presented by Kyle Rehder, MD, CPPS, FCCM
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2:15 p.m.-2:50 p.m.
Burnout can be just as harmful to your physical health and emotional well-being as the stresses of everyday life. Every RT has faced some type of burnout in their career and throughout the pandemic. You will want to take advantage of these strategies for increasing individual resilience alongside organizational interventions to keep us grounded.
Patient Self-Induced Lung Injury
Presented by Neil MacIntyre, MD, FAARC
Thursday, Nov. 10, 12:45 p.m.-1:20 p.m.
Patients who are suffering from patient self-induced lung injury, or P-SILI, may be at risk for developing more permanent lung damage. This presentation will review the concept and ways to detect and avoid this dangerous phenomenon in patients that inspire themselves while breathing on their own terms.
Early Mobilization in the ICU
Presented by Timothy Girard, MD, MSCI
Thursday, Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m.-2:05 p.m.
The evidence suggests that early mobilization can improve outcomes — but in what way and why? This presentation will review the current research on this topic to offer practical advice for best implementing it at your bedside.
Changes in the New VAP/VAE Guidelines — What’s in What’s Out
Rich Branson, MSc, RRT, FAARC
Friday, Nov. 11, 9:55 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
The guidelines for the prevention of VAP/VAE and non-ventilator associated pneumonia are living documents that get updated every few years. While COVID has delayed new recommendations based on recent publications, changes to oral care practices have been made more recently than before, so make sure you’re updated with these too!
Hypoxic, Hyperoxic, and Normoxic States
Michael Lipnick, MD
Friday, Nov. 11, 10:40 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
This session will cover essential concepts related to oxygen delivery and blood oxygen levels that are physiological, clinical, or both.
Abstracts: Preparation and Presentation
Andrew Miller, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC
Saturday, Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m.-11:05 a.m.
Formatting your abstract to stand out and grab the attention of those reviewing it is important. Your poster presentation should be thorough, but don’t worry about perfection just yet. Come to this session to be inspired to finish that poster/abstract you’ve been thinking about!
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
Debbie Bunch is an AARC contributor who writes feature articles, news stories, and other content for Newsroom, the AARC website, and associated emailed newsletters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Debbie by email or on AARConnect or LinkedIn.
