FAST FACTS & AWARDS
Respiratory Care Program Wins National Award for Fourth Year
For the fourth consecutive year, Columbia State’s respiratory care program has received the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success Award. Awards are presented by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care at the annual American Association for Respiratory Care Summer Forum. The award recognizes the small group of respiratory care programs that meet the following criteria: (1) have three or more years of outcomes data; (2) hold accreditation without a progress report; (3) document first-attempt RRT credentialing success rates of 90% or above; and (4) meet or exceed established CoARC thresholds for certified respiratory therapist credentialing success, attrition and positive in-field placement of graduates. 50
According to the 2017 CoARC outcomes data report, Columbia State graduates’ three-year average RRT credentialing rate is 92% compared to a national three-year average of 75%. Columbia State graduates’ three-year average in-field employment rate is 96% compared to a national three-year in-field placement rate of 85%. Only 112 of the 451 respiratory care programs in the country were awarded. Out of the nine programs in Tennessee, only two received this recognition. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job outlook for all occupations in the nation will increase by 7% between 2016-2026. The job outlook for respiratory therapists will increase by 23%. “The success of respiratory care graduates
Pictured (left to right): Roger Major, clinical director and associate professor of respiratory care; Mike West, respiratory care adjunct faculty member; Aimee Luna, respiratory care adjunct faculty member; and R. David Johnson, program director and associate professor of respiratory care.
is evidence of outstanding learning taking place during this rigorous and rewarding program,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division and professor of radiologic technology. “Columbia State’s respiratory care program is making a habit of being recognized nationally for excellence.” At the last re-accreditation visit, Columbia State’s respiratory care program was granted full re-accreditation by the CoARC with zero deficiencies.
