Shown in the photo is Director of Respiratory Care Joseph Hock (far right) with staff of the Respiratory Care Center. Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.

About 500 hospitals or approximately 10 percent of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award. This is the fourth year in a row that Good Samaritan has received this award.

The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.

To qualify for the recognition, Good Samaritan provided documents mentation showing it meets the following conditions:

The AARC's QRCR program grew out of growing concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the association's website for consumers, www.YourLungHealth.org.

Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician's orders to provide a wide range of breathing treat- and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.

The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 42,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.

Director of Respiratory Care Joseph Hock, RRT-NPS, CPFT, stated, "Good Samaritan's Respiratory Care Department is dedicated to providing the highest quality respiratory care services to our community. We meet or exceed all the national standards for the provision of respiratory care and employ the most highly qualified individuals on Long Island. We offer a full range of services encompassing inpatient care, a Pulmonary Function Laboratory, the second largest Pulmonary Rehabilitation program in New York State, a Cardiac Rehabilitation program and a comprehensive Sleep Disorder Center. It is an honor to once again be recognized by the American Association for Respiratory Care with Quality Respiratory Care Recognition."

For more information about Good Samaritan's respiratory care program, call 631-376-4444.