NBRC Horizons, Fourth Quarter 2013

First Quarter 2013

V. 39 / N. 4

HORIZONS CREDENTIALING FOR THE RESPIRATORY CARE PROFESSION

Medicine’s Loss Was Respiratory Therapy’s Gain

S

7

2013 Quarter Fourth

D QUA R T HE T HIR

T ER OF 2

22ND ANNUAL STATE LICENSURE LIAISON GROUP MEETING HELD IN KANSAS CITY 4

0 13

ta l of . A to Care 2013 l r 30, lt Critica w ith g tembe du h Sep t, and A aphs, alon ug ro is 13 th rs Special ing paragr 1, 20 w de nuar y p Disor e follo Ja th s from alist, Slee e show n in peci ation ar ric S amin alRC ex edenti RC cr r 30 of r NB be ges fo h Septem rcenta ug ing pe y 1 thro ss pa , ar e Sept 30 are th n Janu , Jan 1– 13 Below ations give the Sept 30 20 ugh . in , Jan 1– 12 the ing exam and 2013 Sept 30 20 rned Jan 1– , 2012 2011 2011

GH

T PA S S R A

ES COMP

A R ED

Examination Statistics Through the Third Quarter of 2013 9

ion ations aminat es: xamin d of CRT Ex vel Graduat 72.9 % en Le s y the d been Entry date 20.6% Candi s ons ha given. ew N date en andi : C be es t en at e be du Repea have l Gra s ve of er 79.4% ns on ced Le portio s Advan date both 28.1% Candi s

en ve be ions ha tion minat ar y func als on pulm 0 individu e 19 wer ed to inations F T m P T Exa ed-level R nc e adva . e year

New

t Can Repea

ritt RRT W

inatio E Exam tes RRT CS dida

716 d to nistere hu admin 13. Four PS was 20 -N rs of CRT quarte -NPS or T R he R

Can s New didate t Can Repea n

61.7% 54.5%

io aminat CPFT Ex Candidates New

t Can Repea

s didate

ion aminat RPFT Ex Candidates New

t Can epea

s didate

70.0 % 34.3%

67.9 % 33.3%

67.5% 30.8%

date Candi s New didate t Can n Repea

82.4% 27.0 %

82.3% 27.8%

didate

ination en Exam s

70.0 % 16.3%

67.1% 16.2%

64.0 % 50.6%

64.5% 52.4%

72.8% 40.5% 82.5% 68.8%

74.3% 32.3% 86.5% 33.3%

68.8% 57.1% 54.5% 50.0 %

Executive Office Holiday Hours

ation Examin ecialty

67.6%

R atric Sp alty 75.0 % 43.5% Speci Ts tal/Pedi R orders Neona Candidates 48.5% p Dis irty five C s e Slee New date ination 87.2% ted th of 2013. Th ation. andi am C t Ex s sign lty Repea uarter -SDS de Specia 100.0% T 25.0 % isorders or R R Sleep D Candidates 100.0% dult s the A New date ination .7% pted arters of am andi m Ex C 83 t te at qu ialty Repea idates rst three w R RTre Spec N /A N /A cand fi itical Ca 237) ring the the ne rned Adult Cr Candidates N /A tion du tioners ea s ti New didate an y e prac C or t irat Repea e e resp to th ded by th tions d ar ratula tials aw w awarde cong no eden m xtends new cr BRC has 85 N ,1 he 13 2013. The .

60 of 7 in 19 nths ation ts form

ion

72.7% 48.6%

87.9 % 75.0 %

10

88.1% 51.9 %

Annual Renewal Announcement 11

T

By Amy Nye, NBRC Administrative Support Specialist

Committee Chairman, Carl Haas, MLS, he State Licensure Liaison RRT, AE-C, FAARC and Lori Tinkler, Group (SLLG), sponsored by the MBA, Associate Executive Director.

NBRC and the American Association He also welcomed special guests and for Respiratory Care (AARC), met speakers: AARC Chief Executive September 20-21 in Kansas City for the Officer, Thomas Kallstrom, MBA, 22nd year in a row. Thirty-four representaRRT, FAARC; AARC Director of tives from 28 state agencies attended this Government Affairs, Cheryl West, significant function. The State Licensure MHA; CoARC Executive Director, Liaison Group was formed to facilitate Tom Smalling, PhD, RRT, communication between the RPFT, RPSGT, FAARC; NBRC, AARC, and state and NBRC Assistant “Thirty-four regulatory officials and this Executive Director, Robert year’s meeting continued to Shaw, PhD, RRT, FAARC. fulfill this purpose. The pro- representatives from AARC Director of gram began on the evening Government Affairs, Cheryl th 28 state agencies of September 20 with a West, was first to take the welcome reception and dinpodium and delivered a preattended this ner for all representatives. sentation that updated the NBRC President Kerry group on current federal E. George, RRT, MEd, significant function.” legislative and regulatory FAARC, began the issues, as well as respiratory September 21st session by therapist professional issues welcoming the attendees and emphasizas they relate to Medicare and Medicaid. ing the NBRC’s continued desire to mainShe spoke about the Affordable Care tain an excellent relationship with states Act, as well as other congressional legregulating the profession of respiratory islation impacting the profession. She care. Mr. George introduced the NBRC’s reviewed the federal and state regulations panel of speakers, Licensure Liaison

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 » 1

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

2

SLLG MEETING… º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 outlining who can write respiratory care orders, and state licensure requirements for those transporting patients across state lines.

Ms. West also presented information on the expansion of other disciplines and the potential effects that may have on the respiratory care field. She also spoke in detail about the current efforts to deregulate respiratory therapy in states such as Michigan. She emphasized the importance of maintaining licensure in the 49 states and Washington DC and Puerto Rico, and explained the consequences that may follow deregulation. Cheryl concluded her presentation by providing valuable information on the new changes in legislation for the respiratory therapy profession that had taken place in 2013, and explained their projected impact on the profession.

Next, Tom Smalling presented an update of his organization’s Board, and the current number of accredited respiratory therapy education programs in operation. He reviewed the role of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care as the agency that supports the process for accrediting respiratory care education programs. Dr. Smalling gave an update on the changes to accreditation policies that came into effect starting January, 2013. He also updated the group on the process and progress of the review and revision of the 2015 CoARC Accreditation Standards for First-Professional Degree Programs.

LICENSURE LIAISON COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, CARL HAAS, MEDIATES THE OPEN FORUM

Dr. Smalling concluded his presentation by discussing various accreditation issues that are of interest to state respiratory care licensure agencies. These issues included topics such as the CoARC special certificate of completion, RRT eligibility, State and Institution-mandated credit limits for degrees, and the Higher Education Reauthorization Act and Federal Government Agenda.

Next, Thomas Kallstrom provided the group with an update about AARC activities in 2013. He shared the AARC goals for 2013 and 2014, and gave an overview of the three part mission of the AARC, which covered

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 » Published Quarterly by the NATIONAL BOARD FOR RESPIRATORY CARE, INC. 18000 W. 105th Street Olathe, Kansas 66061-7543 913.895.4900 Fax: 913.895.4650 E-mail: nbrc-info@nbrc.org Website: www.nbrc.org NBRC Horizons is published Quarterly to communicate information about the admission policies and procedures, the day-to-day activities, and the short-term and long-range plans of the National Board for Respiratory Care, the national certifying board for the respiratory care profession. The NBRC is sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians. Subscriptions to NBRC Horizons are free for active credentialed practitioners and $24 for inactive practitioners and others. Subscription forms can be obtained by contacting the NBRC Executive Office.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Robert A. Balk, MD, FCCP (ACCP) Susan B. Blonshine, RRT, RPFT, AE-C, FAARC (AARC) Todd G. Bocklage, MPA, RRT (AARC) Suzanne Bollig, RRT, RRT-SDS, RPSGT, R. EEG T., FAARC (AARC) William W. Burgin, Jr., MD, FCCP (ATS) Robin J. Elwood, MD, FAAP (ASA) Hyacinth M. Johnson, RN, BSN, MPA, RRT (AARC) Robert L. Joyner, Jr., PhD, RRT, FAARC (AARC) Carl A. Kaplan, MD, FCCP (ACCP) David A. Kaminsky, MD, FCCP (ACCP) David C. Levin, MD, FCCP (ATS) Robert A. May, MD, FCCP (ACCP) Omid G. Moayed, MD, MBA (ASA) Carl Mottram, BA, RRT, RPFT, FAARC (AARC) Theodore Oslick, MD, FCCP, FAARC (ATS) Donald S. Prough, MD, FCCP (ASA) Robert A. Sinkin, MD, MPH, FAAP (ATS) Mark Siobal, BS, RRT, FAARC (AARC) Stephen A. Stayer, MD (ASA) David L. Vines, MHS, RRT, FAARC (AARC) Teresa A. Volsko, MHHS, RRT, FAARC (AARC)

Copyright © 2013. The National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. Permission must be secured in writing to reprint any portion of this issue. State societies for respiratory care, respiratory care education programs and state licensure agencies may reprint any portion of this publication in their newsletter provided they mention the source.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Kerry E. George, RRT, MEd, FAARC (AARC), President Brian W. Carlin, MD, FCCP, FAARC (ACCP), Vice President Linda A. Napoli, MBA, RRT, RRT-NPS, RPFT (AARC), Secretary Alan L. Plummer, MD, FCCP, FAARC (ATS) Treasurer Gregg L. Ruppel, MEd, RRT, RPFT, FAARC (AARC), Past President PUBLIC ADVISOR John R. Garrison, MPA MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Katherine L. Fedor, RRT, RRT-NPS, CPFT (AARC) Carl F. Haas, MLS, RRT, AE-C, FAARC (AARC) Theodora K. Nicholau, MD, PhD (ASA)

2

CHAIRMAN OF NBRC PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Carl Mottram, BA, RRT, RPFT, FAARC (AARC) STAFF Gary A. Smith, BS, RRT (Hon), FAARC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Lori M. Tinkler, MBA, Chief Operating Officer and Associate Executive Director Chelsea Earhart, MBA, Assistant Executive Director Robert C. Shaw Jr., PhD, RRT, FAARC, Assistant Executive Director Homer Rodriguez, RRT, FAARC, Director, International Affairs Amy Nye, Administrative Support Specialist Scott M. Hermansen, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Glenda Hocker, Executive Assistant Nancy Sachen, Administrative Assistant

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

3

SLLG MEETING‌ º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 professional excellence, advancing science and practice, and advocacy for the field. Mr. Kallstrom discussed the predicted changes in healthcare delivery and the changes that the AARC expects to see in respiratory care in the coming years and the potential impact this will have on individuals and the profession. Tom concluded his presentation by providing insight to some of the challenges that are ahead for the healthcare industry and workforce.

The next speaker was NBRC President, Kerry George. He began by providing the group with an NBRC update, explaining the differences and connections between the AARC, CoARC, NBRC, the State Licensing Boards, and the Lambda Beta Honor Society. He gave an overview of the NBRC structure, the credentialing system, and the Continuing Competency Program. Mr. George provided the group with detailed information regarding the NBRC application and testing process, admissions policies, RRT eligibility requirements, and the options for complying with the Continuing Competency Program to recertify credentials.

Kerry concluded his presentation by discussing two online initiatives that were relevant to the group: the NBRC Disciplinary Database and the State Licensure Liaison Group Extranet. He explained the advantages of states using the Disciplinary Database and how the NBRC uses this information to take action against practitioners who may have violated NBRC Judicial & Ethics Policies. The Extranet is a tool that was developed by the NBRC for use by the state agencies to gather and share information with the NBRC, communicate with other state agencies, and run reports in a secure manner.

Next, Lori Tinkler and Robert Shaw presented changes that are coming to the credentialing system in January of 2015. Ms. Tinkler began the presentation by giving an overview of the administrative and operational side of the changes. She explained there will only be one multiple-choice examination called the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination that will have two separate cut scores; the lower cut score earning the CRT credential and the higher cut score earning eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination. She also discussed in detail

CHERYL WEST, ROBERT SHAW, KERRY GEORGE, AND LORI TINKLER ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE GROUP

the logistics of the changes, including the transitional candidates. Robert Shaw then took over the presentation to discuss the conceptual side of the examination changes.

Dr. Shaw began by giving an overview of the history and development of the CRT and RRT Examinations, and then went on to discuss the technical process of creating the new Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination. Rob explained to the group how the content validation study and job analysis reports were conducted in preparation for this new examination, and concluded by answering questions from the audience regarding the process for selecting content and items for the new examination.

The 2013 meeting proved to be yet another successful session for the State Licensure Liaison Group. Members indicated that the group continues to serve a vital role in ensuring effective communication between the states, the NBRC and the AARC. The NBRC and AARC maintain their commitment to annual sponsorship of this program as part of national efforts to provide uniform licensure examinations for all states regulating the practice of respiratory care and to ensure that the national credentials awarded by the NBRC continue to be recognized by all state entities. m

3

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

4

Cover Story

Medicine’s Loss Was Respiratory Therapy’s Gain AARC honors Kerry George with the Jimmy A. Young Medal

by Debbie Bunch

8 Log on to www.AARC.org for the latest information on AARC Congress 2013.

Reprinted with permission from AARC Times, © 2013 Daedalus Enterprises, Inc., a publication of the American Association for Respiratory Care, Irving, TX, http://www.aarc.org/

44

AARC Times

Today, computerized equipment is used in the pulmonary function laboratory, and the therapist does not really do any of the computations needed for the testing as they used to do with a slide rule when George entered the profession.

September 2013

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 » 4

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

5

KERRY GEORGE… º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Cover Story

When Kerry George first entered the workforce, he dreamed of heroic feats in the operating room, but it turns out the classroom is where he was meant to be.

Kerry George, RRT, MEd, FAARC, knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life when he was growing up in the small town of Forreston, IL, back in the 1960s — and “teacher” definitely wasn’t it. “I have often said that if someone had asked me to make a list of 500 jobs I might be interested in when I was in high school, I don’t think teaching would have made that list,” says this year’s winner of the AARC’s prestigious Jimmy A. Young Medal. “I decided when I was in fifth grade what I would do. I was to become a surgeon.”

As it turned out, medicine’s loss was the respiratory therapy educational community’s gain, because teaching is exactly what George has spent the majority of his career doing. As an instructor turned program director at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Des Moines, IA, since 1977, he has helped develop several hundred respiratory therapy students into excellent practitioners. The professional organizations governing their careers have

Jimmy A. Young Medal Every year the AARC bestows the Jimmy A. Young Medal on a member of the profession who has exceeded all expectations for meritorious service to the AARC and advancement of the respiratory care profession. The award was created in 1976 to honor the memory of Jimmy A. Young, MEd, RRT, an exemplary member of the profession and AARC leader who died suddenly at the age of 40.

Among his many accomplishments were serving as director of the first “inhalation therapy” department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, co-authoring one of the first textbooks on respiratory care, “Principles and Practice of Inhalation Therapy,” and serving as the 22nd president of the AARC. ■

benefited from his expertise as well.

AARC Times

September 2013

45

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 » 5

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

6

KERRY GEORGE… º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Cover Story

And now for Plan B A good student who was mainly interested in math and science, George entered college with medical school at the forefront of his mind. He took all the right courses to prepare for a future as a surgeon, and he fully believed he would be accepted into one or more schools when he graduated. His career goals underwent a course correction during his senior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. “When I applied to medical schools in the spring of 1973, I was shocked not to be accepted,” he says now. He got out of school with a BS in biology and the realization that he would have to develop a “Plan B.” “As I prepared to get some experience in health care while waiting to reapply to medical schools in 1974, I went to the local hospital to see what kinds of jobs were available,” says the AARC Fellow. “At the time I was applying, they had two positions available.”

One involved transporting patients to and from the physical therapy department. The other was in a department called “inhalation therapy.”

“I did not think transporting patients would help me learn much, so I asked to talk with someone in the inhalation therapy department,” he recalls. He met with the department director at Freeport Memorial Hospital in Freeport, IL, and liked what he saw. “Two days after I first heard the term ‘inhalation therapy,’ I started work as an inhalation therapist,” says George. The “Plan B” detour ended up being the road for him. “I never did apply again to medical school.”

46

AARC Times

Formal training George says he learned a lot about the profession at Freeport, including the opportunities that were available for someone like him who came into the field with a bachelor’s degree. But he also learned that he still had a lot to learn about taking care of people with lung disease.

“This created the desire to learn more and to become much more involved in the profession,” he says.

The first order of business: get some formal training in respiratory therapy.

In his part of Illinois at the time, there were two RT educational programs: a two-year program in Rock-

September 2013

ford and an accelerated program at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics School. The latter seemed to be a better fit for him, and he applied and was accepted.

What’s more, the hospital agreed to continue to pay his salary while he completed the program, making it possible for him to gain formal education in the profession without compromising his finances.

George got his first taste of the educational arena when he had the chance to participate in the pulmonary education and training of emergency medical technicians at the hospital. He enjoyed seeing the joy the students had over learning new things, but at that point in his

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 » 6

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

7

KERRY GEORGE… º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Cover Story

“I am proud of all that has been accomplished by graduates of the program,” George says.

career was still committed to the clinical side of the profession. After a few more years at Freeport — where he says he did everything from administering intermittent positive-pressure breathing treatments, to disinfecting equipment, to analyzing blood gas specimens on an analyzer that required several milliliters of blood and manual calibration before each measurement — he decided to move to Wisconsin, where he took a job as a therapist at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Madison. It was there that he realized where his career was really heading. “I had the opportunity to work with some students from the local program there

and to work with new graduates of the program when they were hired,” he recalls. The more contact he had with the students and new graduates, the more he saw some issues that he thought he might be able to influence in other people just starting out in the profession. “Some of these were specific knowledge and skills, and some were attitudes and expectations,” he says. “I discovered that if I wanted to impact the things I felt should be different, I could only do that by becoming involved in the education process.”

Given the rapid growth in the profession back in those days that spelled upward mobility for anyone with a bachelor’s degree, formal training in respiratory therapy, and a few years of experience in bedside care, George also knew it was time to choose between a future in management or education. Management would lead to a reduction in his contact with patients, an aspect of the profession he enjoyed, while teaching would still involve patient care through the clinical education of his students. That cinched the deal. “I learned of a position in the

Go to www.AARC.org to register for AARC Congress 2013, make hotel reservations, and see transportation discounts.

respiratory therapy program at Des Moines Area Community College and decided we would move to Iowa for a couple years until a position in the respiratory therapy program opened in Madison,” he says.

George went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Iowa State University in 2001 and says he is proud of the reputation he’s been able to build for the respiratory therapy program at DMACC. His biggest reward has been seeing his students go on to have successful careers in the profession. “I am proud of all that has been accomplished by graduates of the program,” he says. As he became more and more invested in the educational side of respiratory care, however, he realized that he could make an even bigger impact on the future of his field by getting more involved in his professional organizations.

An AARC member since his days in the University of Chicago program — he credits Program Director Bill Morrison, RRT, for showing him why he should join — George says he never thought much about getting actively involved until he went to work as an instructor at DMACC. “I was an Active AARC member but not an ‘active’ member from 1974 until 1978,” he explains. “I paid my dues, read the publications, attended a few meetings, and did what most members do — not much.” Once he landed in Iowa, though, he found the other instructor in the program at the time was actively involved in the Iowa Society for Respiratory Care. After attending a few local meetings with her, he realized that he, too, could play a part in the leadership of his profession. “I soon was wholly involved and enjoyed the opportunities to work with the leaders of the profession in Iowa and eventually at the national level,” he notes.

AARC Times

September 2013

47

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 » 7

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

8

KERRY GEORGE… º CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Cover Story

Service to the profession Over the next 20 years, George served the AARC in numerous capacities, culminating with his election to president-elect in 1996. But even before he became president, he had the unique opportunity to help shape the future of RT educational accreditation during negotiations between the AARC and Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education (JRCRTE).

Those discussions continued in his presidential year, concluding with the formation of the current Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) in 1998. He also took the opportunity his AARC presidency gave him to visit other countries to see how they provided respiratory care. Following his year as president, he served on the board of directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the umbrella body that formed to oversee CoARC and the accreditation organizations of other professions after professional accreditation transitioned from the American Medical Association process. “I was honored to be elected to a position on the board and to serve as a liaison to accreditation committees outside the respiratory therapy profession as well as to provide leadership to the development of the accreditation processes for health education programs,” says George. “The respiratory therapy profession and CoARC were leaders in developing a focus on outcomes of the educational process rather than focus on the inputs and processes.”

George also worked with the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) in developing examinations. “I have had the opportunity to work mainly with the Certified Respiratory Therapist and Written Registered Respiratory Thera-

48

AARC Times

pist examinations during my time with the NBRC,” says George, who is currently serving as president of the NBRC Board of Trustees. “I am very proud to have been chair at the time the two separate committees were combined into one.” Those efforts will come full circle in 2015, when the NBRC will implement a single multiple-choice exam for both credentials. “This is a big step in enabling RTs to achieve credentials important to their professional development,” he says. “My experiences have allowed me to gain a broad understanding of the many different NBRC credentialing activities and to be able to lead the organization in a positive manner.”

Longtime friend and colleague Charlie G. Brooks, Jr., EdD, RRT, FAARC, credits George with helping to form the modern versions of the AARC, NBRC, and CoARC. “There has been no challenge he has refused to take on for the betterment of both the Association and the profession,” says Dr. Brooks. “I can think of no one more deserving of the Jimmy A. Young Medal.”

Gary Smith, BS, RRT, FAARC, who as CEO of the NBRC has worked closely with George over the years as well, agrees. “Kerry has influenced many areas of the profession, from the education of students to assisting with the accreditation system and serving as a commissioner for CAAHEP, as well as participating as an appointed representative to state licensure boards and various special commissions throughout his distinguished career. He is an effective educator, communicator, and public speaker who always delivers the message in a clear and understandable fashion.”

As for George himself, he believes all of the work he and others have done to create strong professional organizations for members of the respiratory care profession are on the verge of paying off through the development

September 2013

8

“I envision a future when the students who graduate from my RT program and others will enter a workforce that depends on their skills and expertise to keep patients healthy.”

– Kerry George, RRT, MEd, FAARC

of RTs who are not just providers of care, but care managers. “We will continue to be involved in the traditional roles of care of patients with acute illnesses in hospitals, but with a smaller portion of our workforce,” predicts the educator. “Many more will be working in physician offices and for health care insurance and management organizations to reduce the need for patients with these chronic illnesses to access care in the emergency department and hospital.” Indeed, he fully envisions a future when the students who graduate from his RT program and others will enter a workforce that depends on their skills and expertise to keep patients healthy rather than just treat them when they are sick.

“We have the opportunity to have the most significant impact on future costs, and we must grab that opportunity,” says this year’s Jimmy A. Young Medalist. “I am very confident that we will focus our attention on the outcomes of care we provide and begin to demonstrate our value in improving the quality of life for persons with chronic and acute respiratory illnesses while significantly reducing the costs of our health care system as it truly becomes a system to manage health rather than illness.” ■

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

9

EXAMINATION STATISTICS THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2013

T

he NBRC administered 31,857 credentialing examinations from January 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013. A total of 13,185 new CRT, RRT, CPFT, RPFT, Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist, Sleep Disorders Specialist, and Adult Critical Care Specialist credentials were issued. Relevant statistics for each NBRC examination are shown in the following paragraphs, along with the 2011 through 2013 pass rate information.

CRT Examination A total of 10,436 CRT Examinations were given through the third quarter of 2013. A total of 6,741 individuals have earned the CRT credential so far this year.

RRT Examinations The Written Registry and Clinical Simulation Examinations make up the two part RRT Examination. By the end of September 2013, 10,469 Written Registry Examinations had been administered, while 9,603 Clinical Simulation Examinations had been given.

Through the first nine months of 2013, 5,506 practitioners were awarded the RRT credential by successfully passing both portions of the RRT Examination.

Pulmonary Function Technologist Examinations Two hundred eight-seven (287) CPFT Examinations had been given as of September 30, 2013. The entry-level pulmonary function technologist credential, CPFT, was awarded to 190 individuals during this time period. Sixty eight (68) RPFT Examinations were administered and 36 CPFTs achieved the advanced-level RPFT credential through the first nine months of the year.

Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty Examination The Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty Examination was administered to 716 CRTs and/or RRTs during the first three quarters of 2013.

Four hundred seventy-eight (478) practitioners earned the RRT-NPS or CRT-NPS designation.

Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination Forty-one (41) candidates attempted the Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination during the first three quarters of 2013. Thirty five CRTs and/or RRTs earned the CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS designation during this time period.

Adult Critical Care Specialty Examination Two hundred thirty-seven (237) candidates attempted the Adult Critical Care Specialty Examination through September 30, 2013.

One hundred ninety-nine (199) practitioners earned the new RRTACCS credential thus far in 2013.

The Board of Trustees extends congratulations to the respiratory care professionals earning the 13,185 new credentials awarded by the NBRC during the first nine months of 2013. The NBRC has now awarded 390,058 credentials since its formation in 1960. m

9

PASS RATES COMPARED Below are the passing percentages for NBRC credentialing examinations given January 1 through September 30 of 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Jan 1–Sept 30, Jan 1–Sept 30, Jan 1–Sept 30, 2011 2012 2013

CRT Examination Entry Level Graduates: New Candidates

72.9%

67.1%

70.0%

Repeat Candidates

20.6%

16.2%

16.3%

Advanced Level Graduates: New Candidates

79.4%

82.3%

82.4%

Repeat Candidates

28.1%

27.8%

27.0%

New Candidates

67.5%

67.9%

70.0%

Repeat Candidates

30.8%

33.3%

34.3%

New Candidates

61.7%

64.5%

64.0%

Repeat Candidates

54.5%

52.4%

50.6%

New Candidates

72.8%

74.3%

68.8%

Repeat Candidates

40.5%

32.3%

57.1%

New Candidates

82.5%

86.5%

54.5%

Repeat Candidates

68.8%

33.3%

50.0%

RRT Written Examination

RRT CSE Examination

CPFT Examination

RPFT Examination

Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty Examination New Candidates

75.0%

67.6%

72.7%

Repeat Candidates

48.5%

43.5%

48.6%

Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination New Candidates

100.0%

87.2%

87.9%

Repeat Candidates

100.0%

25.0%

75.0%

Adult Critical Care Specialty Examination New Candidates

N/A

83.7%

88.1%

Repeat Candidates

N/A

N/A

51.9%

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

10

Happy Holidays!

T

from the NBRC and AMP!

he offices of the NBRC and its subsidiary, Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP), will be closed Monday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Additionally, the offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

MONDAY Nov. 11 ED OS L C

TUESDAY Nov. 12

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Nov. 13 Nov. 14

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Nov. 15 Nov. 16 Nov. 17

Nov. 18

Nov. 19

Nov. 20

Nov. 21

Nov. 22

Nov. 23

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

Nov. 27

Nov. 28

Nov. 29

Nov. 30

D SE

O

CL

Nov. 24

ED

OS

CL

In observance of Christmas, the Executive Offices will be closed December 24-26. The offices will also be closed Tuesday, December 31 and Wednesday, January 1 to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. The Board of Trustees of the NBRC, Board of Directors of AMP and the NBRC/AMP Staff extend our best wishes to all for a happy holiday season, as well as a joyous and successful 2014.

MONDAY Dec. 23

TUESDAY Dec. 24 ED OS L C

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Dec. 25 Dec. 26 D E ED OS OS L L C C

Dec. 30

Dec. 31

Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 29 Dec. 30 FOR RESPIRATORY Dec. 31 Jan. 1,INC. 2012 NATIONAL BOARD CARE, D E 18000 W. 105th St. Olathe, KS 66061-7543 OS CL Voice: 888.341.4811 or 913.895.4900 Fax: 913.895.4650

OS

ED

CL

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Dec. 27 Dec. 28 Dec. 29

The NBRC/AMP offices will be open Friday, December 27 and Monday, December 30 to schedule examination appointments and answer questions.

If you would like to apply or schedule an examination, you may also use the Online Application/Scheduling feature available at www.nbrc.org. The Executive Office will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2014 with regular operating hours to respond to your credentialing needs.

10

HORIZONS

Fourth Quarter 2013

11

ANNUAL RENEWAL ANNOUNCEMENT Have you completed your 2014 annual renewal? Be sure to renew early in order to receive the benefits all year long!

Being an active member in the national groups of practitioners credentialed by the NBRC means you care about protecting your professional future. The renewal cycle is based on a calendar year, from January 1 through December 31 each year. The Board provides an annual gift of appreciation to those who support the NBRC through the annual renewal process. The 2014 gift will be mailed out approximately 4-6 weeks after your renewal is processed.

If you have not maintained active status in the past, please reconsider activating your status to demonstrate support for your credentialing organization and to help ensure that your NBRC credentials continue to have value and meaning. Part of being a professional is to continue to recognize the value of your national credentials and support the organization that stands behind them. Your support will be greatly appreciated and used by the NBRC to accomplish our mission for years to come.

You can renew online at www.nbrc.org under the ‘Credentialed Practitioners’ tab or by clicking here.

D

AARC CONGRESS REMINDER

on’t forget to stop by our exhibit booth in the Anaheim Convention Center at the AARC’s 59th International Congress, November 16-19, 2013. Meet NBRC Staff and have your questions answered. Online conference registration is available at www.aarc.org. m

11