The AARC Apex Recognition Award is a premier recognition program for respiratory care departments. The 2018 application period will open on Oct. 1, 2018; however, we’re giving you a head start on preparing for the Apex application. Apex standards and documentation requirements can be reviewed online at the AARC site.
Start Preparing Your Apex Application
A new way to highlight RTs
The AARC developed the Apex Recognition Award as a way to acknowledge the significant contributions of respiratory therapists.
In 2017, the inaugural year for the award, six institutions achieved this designation. These institutions demonstrated best practices aligned with evidence-based medicine.
The AARC Times featured each Apex recipient, and we’ve shared excerpts below to help encourage and inspire participation for our 2018 Apex Recognition Award.
Piedmont Healthcare-Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Featured in the November 2017 AARC Times“As health care advances to deliver the highest, safest, quality of care, we believe that our respiratory profession should advance in the same direction. Patients and their families have a choice as to where they can receive their health care, and so we want to be the type of department and organization that focuses on the highest quality of care for our patients and their families.” –Valerie David, MHS, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C, department director
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featured in the June 2018 AARC Times“Apex took us to the next level on innovating therapy and brings pride to the entire Valley Health System and our RT department.” –Herve Mondestin, MS, RRT, department manager
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Featured in the March 2018 AARC Times“We set a very high standard of practice for the respiratory therapists in our department, and this award shows that this level of performance does get noticed and recognized. … The Apex Award has allowed us to show our staff that they are one of the elite departments in the country and show the whole organization the value of our department.” –Andrew Klein, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, department supervisor
The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, New Jersey
Featured in the February 2018 AARC Times“The Apex award demonstrates we are being acknowledged in a similar fashion to other health care professionals who receive recognition from their organizations. … We interviewed a potential recruit last week who stated, ‘This must be a great place to work, I saw the department received the Apex Award.’” –Margie Pierce, MS, RRT, CPFT, department director
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Featured in the April 2018 AARC Times“This was an opportunity for us to pause and complete a self-assessment. … We have always been the can-do department and have been well respected across all areas of the organization. This recognition has punctuated that perception and our commitment toward excellence. … It is gratifying to come into work day to day and see that recognition on display and reflect, ‘Yeah, we do good work.’” –Peter Betit, MBA, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC, department director
Lifecare Hospital of Chester County, West Chester, Pennsylvania
Featured in the May 2018 AARC Times“We always knew our respiratory therapists were great. … It has been wonderful to feel the esteem and pride from our peers. It has been an absolute honor to be recognized by the AARC.” –Lisa Pope, BS, RRT, RT manager
More categories for 2018
There are now five categories for recognition: acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, home medical equipment (HME) companies, entry level educational programs, and dedicated transport teams.
Reach for the Apex
“The Apex Recognition Award demonstrates such commitment to excellence,” said Karen S. Schell, DHSc, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-SDS, RPFT, RPSGT, AE-C, CTTS, AARC president-elect. “I applaud your organization for reaching for this award and providing the best possible care for our patients. I encourage all respiratory care departments and practitioners to reach for this commitment to excellence in your everyday practice.”
