May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and their sponsoring organizations — the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — have great resources you can use to let your communities know about these conditions and how RTs are involved in their care.
The AARC has a wealth of resources for therapists interested in furthering their own knowledge about these diseases as well.
Top of the list is our 14.5 CRCE Pulmonary Disease Educator Course. Both asthma and cystic fibrosis are included in this comprehensive course on the tools and techniques respiratory therapists need to make a positive impact on both long-term pulmonary disease care and patient quality of life.
Also, check out the Status Asthmaticus webcast (Sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Monaghan Medical Corporation). This presentation will help the respiratory therapist identify status asthmaticus through patient assessment, describe pathophysiologic findings of the condition, and identify the best evidence-based practice for interventions.
Those seeking to sit for the AE-C credential can zero in on the knowledge they need to pass the exam through our 10.5 CRCE Asthma Educator Certification Preparation Course, and other asthma-related educational content is available on the Asthma Channel in AARC U.
Therapists who want to update their knowledge of cystic fibrosis can take our Cystic Fibrosis: A 21st Century Perspective Course. The course delves into the transition of the disease from one predominately affecting children to one affecting adults as well, and it covers all the bases — from pathophysiology and improvements in survival to the role of inhaled medications and the clinical benefit of ivacaftor in patients with the G551D mutation.
Other resources include —
- Guide to Aerosol Delivery Devices for Respiratory Therapists: Now in its fourth edition, this booklet contains the latest information on the nebulizers, MDIs, and DPIs your patients use to treat their chronic respiratory conditions. It’s free for AARC members and you can even earn 6 CRCE credits by taking a post-test.
- Pulmonary Disease Management Community: Available at no extra cost to members, this online community is a great place to network with fellow RTs who have a special interest in helping asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung disease patients manage their conditions.
- Allergy & Asthma Health Tip Kits, Sheets & Bookmarks: Available in our online AARC Store. Give them to your patients and their families, as materials for group presentations, or as health fair handouts.
- The Role of the Respiratory Therapist in Cystic Fibrosis: This webinar is approved for 1 CRCE and will focus on how the respiratory therapist can contribute to the multidisciplinary care plan of the patient with cystic fibrosis to promote the best lung health as well as quality of life.
So consider how you can put these resources to use in your care of asthma and cystic fibrosis patients, and then take your awareness activities out into the community too. Not sure how to connect with media outlets in your area? The AARC’s Public Relations Tools can help you get started.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
