American Association for Respiratory Care

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a non profit organization and is currently the only professional organization supporting Respiratory Care in the United States. In addition to attempting to help lobby for beneficial legislation nationally and locally, the AARC is trying to promote the profession as a whole to increase interest and membership.^[1] The AARC began in 1943, as the Inhalation Technician Association and has evolved rapidly and repeatedly since.^[2]

Mission

"The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) will continue to be the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC will encourage and promote professional excellence, advance the science and practice of respiratory care, and serve as an advocate for patients, their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist."^[3]

Publications

• Respiratory Care
• AARC Times Magazine

History

• 1946 - University of Chicago Hospital forms the Inhalation Therapy Association (ITA).
• 1947 - The ITA is chartered as a non-profit entity in the state of Illinois.
• 1954 - The ITA is renamed American Association of Inhalation Therapists (AAIT).
• 1966 - The AAIT is renamed American Association of Inhalation Therapy (AAIT).
• 1956 - The AAIT begins publishing a journal called Inhalation Therapy.
• 1973 - The AAIT is renamed the American Association of Respiratory Therapy.
• 1986 - The AART is renamed the American Association of Respiratory Care.

Affiliations

The AARC has several organizations with which they have an official liaison; some of these include:

• AMA Allied Health Careers
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• American Heart Association
• American Hospital Association
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
• American Society for Testing and Materials
• American Thoracic Society
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free kids
• Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
• COARC, The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
• Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation
• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• Lambda Beta Society
• National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care
• National Association for the Support of Long Term Care
• National Board for Respiratory Care
• National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics
• National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards
• National Lung Health Education Program
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program
• Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario
• Society of Critical Care Medicine

See also

• National Board for Respiratory Care
• Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

References

External links

• National Board of Respiratory Care, Inc.