May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and their sponsoring organizations — the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — have lots of resources you can use to let your communities know about these conditions and how RTs are involved in their care.
The AARC has a wealth of resources for therapists interested in furthering their own knowledge about these diseases as well.
Top of the list is our May featured asthma webcast on May 23, Assessment-Guided Asthma Education – Match the Message to the Need. This webinar is approved for 1 CRCE and will focus on high impact education that addresses self-care needs uncovered by EPR3-compliant assessments, including: patient access to and use of medications, inhalation technique, environmental triggers, self-monitoring, and readiness for asthma emergencies.
Also, chief among our resources is our 14.5 CRCE Pulmonary Disease Educator Course. Both asthma and cystic fibrosis are included in this comprehensive course on the tools and techniques respiratory therapists need to make a positive impact on both long-term pulmonary disease care and patient quality of life.
Those seeking to sit for the AE-C credential can zero in on the knowledge they need to pass the exam through our 10.5 CRCE Asthma Educator Certification Preparation Course, and other asthma-related educational content is available on the Asthma Channel in AARC U.
Therapists who want to update their knowledge of cystic fibrosis can take our Cystic Fibrosis: A 21st Century Perspective Course. The course delves into the transition of the disease from one predominately affecting children to one affecting adults as well, and it covers all the bases — from pathophysiology and improvements in survival, to the role of inhaled medications and the clinical benefit of ivacaftor in patients with the G551D mutation.
Other resources include —
- Guide to Aerosol Delivery Devices for Respiratory Therapists: Now in its third edition, this booklet contains the latest information on the nebulizers, MDIs, and DPIs your patients use to treat their chronic respiratory conditions. It’s free for AARC members and you can even earn 6 CRCE credits by taking a post test.
- Asthma Self-Management Education (ASME): This certification program may be just what you need to market your asthma disease management program to patients, physicians, and even third party payors.
- Pulmonary Disease Management Roundtable: Available at no extra cost to members, this online community is a great place to network with fellow RTs who have a special interest in helping asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung disease patients manage their conditions.
- Allergy & Asthma Health Tip Kits, Sheets & Bookmarks: Available in our online AARC Store. Give them to your patients and their families, as materials for group presentations, or as health fair handouts.
- Your Lung Health: Our consumer website has a wealth of useful information and advice on asthma and cystic fibrosis you can share with your patients.
- Allergy & Asthma Health: Published quarterly, our online consumer magazine features great articles written especially for patients and families by AARC members. Check it out and then provide your patients with a link to sign up.
So consider how you can put these resources to use in your care of asthma and cystic fibrosis patients, and then take your awareness activities out into the community too. Not sure how to connect with media outlets in your area? The AARC’s Public Relations Tools can help you get started.
