Respiratory Care

The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). CoARC holds recognition from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The CoARC number for our program is 200448. CoARC, 264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690; 817-283-2835 www.coarc.com

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.”  The Baptist Health Sciences University program number is 200448

https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

Students participate in required courses to develop professional behaviors related to leadership, teaching, and community and public health. Learning activities in these courses allow students to engage with health care leaders as
they learn about managing and leading health care teams, studying and conducting continuous quality improvement,
and developing and facilitating patient/family education. Having this knowledge and skill sets the Baptist University
graduate apart from others.

The Respiratory Care program of Baptist Health Sciences University will “prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice, as performed by registered respiratory therapists”. As bachelors of health sciences program, the curriculum “prepares leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content that includes objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization)”. (CoARC, 3.01, 2018)

Upon completion of the respiratory care program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate competence in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists.
• Demonstrate competence in the interpretation of cardiopulmonary diagnostic testing, basic respiratory care techniques, pulmonary function, radiographic and laboratory studies.
• Provide basic and advanced respiratory care therapeutics, in a variety of health care settings, with an ability to safely treat and evaluate patients’ response.
• Appropriately implement a plan for patient and staff education techniques with consideration to culturally competent behaviors and professional domains.
• Effectively collaborate to provide direction and input into decisions regarding the provision of respiratory care services and resources.

Students participate in a variety of clinical experiences designed to prepare them for the diverse practices of the profession. Clinical practicum hours begin during a student’s junior year and continue through the senior year. During students’ graduating term, senior students have the opportunity to select and design a professional internship that aligns with their individual goals for future practice as a respiratory therapist.

Clinical Experiences

• Adult general care
• Adult critical care
• Pediatric general care
• Pediatric critical care
• Perinatal critical care
• Diagnostics, pulmonary function testing
• Sleep disorders evaluation
• Home care
• Management

Clinical Partnerships

• Baptist Memorial Health Care
• Baptist Memphis
• Baptist DeSoto
• Baptist Women’s and Childrens
• Baptist Collierville
• Baptist Restorative Care
• Baptist Home Medical Equipment
• Memphis Lung Physicians Surgery/Intubation Clinical Site
• LeBonheur Children’s Hospital
• St Jude Children’s Hospital
• Regional One Health (formerly The MED)
• Baptist Medical Group/Memphis Lung Physicians (DeSoto and Memphis)

The following technical standards outline reasonable expectations of a student enrolled in the Respiratory Care program for the performance of common clinical functions.*

Communication

Ability to communicate with a wide variety of people and the ability to be easily understood. Reading, writing, recording, and documenting patient information required.

Analytical Skills/Critical Thinking

Analytical skills sufficient to process information, to transfer knowledge from one situation to another, and to prioritize tasks. Critical thinking ability sufficient for safe, clinical judgment.

Hearing                                                                                                                  

Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess patient needs, to detect and respond to alarms, emergency signals, and cries for help.

Vision

Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for the care of patients and operation of equipment.

Tactile

Tactile ability sufficient for patient assessment and operation of equipment.

Mobility

Physical ability, flexibility, strength, and stamina sufficient to provide safe and effective care.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor ability sufficient to provide safe and effective care.

Behavioral

Emotional and mental health sufficient to establish therapeutic boundaries, to perform multiple tasks concurrently, to handle strong emotions, and to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

*Students who have accessibility questions or who need accommodations should contact the Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Room 101, Science Building, at 901-572-2570 or by sending an email to Disability.Accomodations@baptistu.edu.