Awards and Recognition
Carteret General Hospital Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition in National Program
Carteret General Hospital has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.
About 500 hospitals or approximately 10% of hospitals in the United States have received this award. Carteret General Hospital is one of those hospitals.
“We are proud of this accomplishment,” says Gaye Fulcher, Cardiopulmonary Manager. “I have always known that our staff and program is the best and this recognition confirms that we are. This is the first time we applied for the recognition, but we have always maintained the same standards of care in respiratory therapy.”
The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.
To qualify for the recognition, Carteret General Hospital meets the following conditions:
- All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services and/or hold CRT or RRT credential.
- Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours.
- 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 or medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.
The QRCR program grew out of concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the associations’ website for consumers, YourLungHealth.org.
Carteret General employs almost 30 respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, pulmonary rehabilitation, sleep disorders and other lung-related conditions. Dr. John Gould, Cardiologist, is the medical director of respiratory care services. Respiratory therapists also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.
Carteret General Hospital is a 135-bed hospital serving Eastern Carolina. In addition to respiratory care, the Hospital offers a full range of acute care, diagnostic and outpatient services including a comprehensive Cancer Center, CGH Imaging Center, Emergency Department and Birthing Center. Excellence & Educational Programs for Joint Surgery, Congestive Heart Failure, Breast Cancer and Diabetes enhance our specialty services to a level that you would only expect at larger facilities. For additional information about Carteret General Hospital, call 808-6000 or visit our website at ccgh.org.