Ok, hopefully the title of this blog got you reading further. Yes, I meant to ask that as my title. We all know that day in and day out we advocate for our patients....right? Hell yeah, we do!! If it wasn't for us, our patients would get nebulizer therapy right up until the minute they leave to go home, or what about that patient who the doctor ordered mucomyst 10 days ago and now they have thin secretions, we get the order discontinued. We even advocate for them when it comes to making sure they know all about their meds and we make sure they can take their inhalers properly or use their portable nebs right. Ok, that is clinical advocacy, we are the best.
I want to speak to something that isn't as ingrained into us and that is political advocacy. How many of you know that respiratory therapists aren't recognized as providers of respiratory care to patients under Medicare Part B. Now I hear it already, who cares, I work in the hospital. Well, let's think about it. When your patient leaves you, don't you think there is a time from discharge to a few days after they leave that they may have questions about their care? Is it always easy to get hold of your doctor to get a quick question answered? Outside the traditional hospital setting is where Respiratory Therapy needs to venture in order to complete the continuum of care. I personally work with a Visiting Nurse agency back home here in CT. They don't always get paid for my services but they have recognized the need for an RT to supplement their nursing services to do respiratory specific evaluations and teaching of patients. This agency has had the best statistics when it comes to pulmonary/respiratory patients. Readmissions are down, patients are satisfied with the care, etc.
So this is what I would like to ask of you. Go to
www.AARC.org and click on the feature about the Virtual Lobby Week. On March 8, 2011, I and other members of the Political Advocacy Contact Team (PACT) from each state will gather in Washington DC to visit with as many members of Congress from their state as possible. We are hoping to increase their knowledge of the need for Respiratory Therapists and the benefit to recognize them under Medicare Part B. The costs would be minimal in federal money terms. In the long run, our patients get better care and are seen by the appropriate clinical person for their clinical issue. HERE IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! We need you to write your Representative and both Senators. You really can do this in a matter of a few clicks. You can send three e-mails in less than 5 minutes. Then after you do that, tell your co-workers and family and friends. The more messages that get to Washington before our March 8th trip, the better the reception we will get!
Five minutes and then you will really be able to call yourself a well-rounded patient advocate. Because not only do you clinically advocate for them, but now you have become a political advocate. I want to thank you for reading this blog and also thank you in advance for doing your part in advocating for our patients and profession.
Frank