Those who hold leadership positions in the AARC I urge you to network with RT directors to give us accurate information. Currently, there are hundreds of rumors running around concerning the number of COVID patients on ventilators. These rumors generally go like this: “I have a friend or know a friend who is saying it is really, really bad.” I have not come across anyone giving concrete ventilator numbers by citing a respiratory care director in the front lines. I believe our AARC leadership should be contacting state societies and have them contact directors in cities that have high COVID patient counts to confirm actual numbers. These ventilator counts would include COVID patients only and not non-COVID ventilator patients.
During this time, AARC leaders need to step up and present accurate information by doing some real investigation work and then present their concrete data to respiratory therapists nationwide. This will help RT departments across the nation to better assess the situation and help them prepare their local hospitals. I would urge our AARC president to have live updates on YouTube or another social media platform to keep us updated. Example: Have our AARC president interview a respiratory care director in a hospital with an increased COVID patient ventilator count.
Currently, we as respiratory therapists are looking for leadership and encouragement from our national society and I am currently not seeing it. This is the time for The AARC to show us why we support them and why we give them our money. A crisis is when real leadership is tested and those who are unable to lead will be exposed. AARC, this is your time to shine or your time to fail.
