Linda Sharkey, Phyllis Cordova, Linda Jones, Becky Coppage, Patti Roberts, Tehmeena Ali, Joanie Arnstrong, Carla Adams, Jeff Scott, Janna Smith-Dingus, Angie Tolley. Not pictured are: Donna Schmiedeknecht, Alice Camm, Debbie Wayland, Tiffani Dombroff, Ron Harver, Jerrie Teets, Kathleen Kofler, Debbie Stoker, Linda Dean, Kim Foster, Terri Mathis, Mary Paul and Kay Stiffler.

Fauquier Hospital’s Respiratory Department has – for the second year in a row – been awarded Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR). It’s quite an honor, since only 15 percent of the country’s 5,000 hospitals earn the designation.

Linda Sharkey, vice president of Patient Care Services, congratulated the respiratory therapy staff. “You deliver high patient care. The whole senior management team and I want to thank you for all your hard work.” Sharkey presented to the department the plaque that proclaims the award and thanked each of the 23 respiratory therapists with a special pin recognizing the honor.

The QRCR award first became available in 2003 through the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). To qualify for the recognition, Fauquier Hospital provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credentials.
• Respiratory therapists are available around the clock.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.

Angie Tolley, supervisor in the Cardiopulmonary Department, said, “I feel like it is a great honor, and I feel that it is very much deserved. I do feel that the department has worked hard to achieve and deliver quality care. We make sure the staff meets the demands and exceeds the current trends. We offer up-to-date education.”

Respiratory therapists require the same amount of training as a nurse, and additional education puts a focus on the heart and lungs. While working under physician’s orders, a respiratory therapist provides care for patients at every age, from premature infants to geriatric patients.

Carla Adams, senior director of Inpatient Services, said, “Respiratory therapists are key players in patient care.”