APRT!! The first step in improving the field of Respiratory Care
If you’re a student, medical professional, or educator involved in the field of Respiratory Care, chances are you haven’t heard much about APRT before, and if you haven’t you are in the perfect place. Well, let me explain: APRT stands for Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist – an emerging specialty within respiratory care that has been gaining recognition and momentum over the last few years. In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of APRT and why it’s becoming increasingly necessary as a critical element of an already growing profession. We’ll go into detail about how this specific profession of Respiratory Care could lead to improved patient outcomes as well as greater career advancement opportunities for those already in respiratory care. So if you’ve ever wanted to take your skills deeper on your way to Mastering Respiratory It all starts with understanding APRT – what it is and how it can change the future of healthcare!
“As part of a physician-led team, APRTs are trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, critical care and preventive care services in multiple settings across the health care spectrum including acute (emergency department [ED] or urgent care) and critical care, sub-acute, in- patient and preventative care, as well as chronic care, ambulatory, and out-patient care. They take medical histories and record progress notes; examine, treat, and counsel patients; order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging studies, and diagnostics; and provide acute, critical, and chronic care to patients. “
As per CoArc: (check link below for more)
What is APRT and why it is important in the world of respiratory care
If you know someone who suffers from respiratory issues or is involved in the care of those who suffer from those issues, you may be familiar with the important role of respiratory therapists. But have you heard of the Advance Practice Respiratory Therapist (APRT)? They’re a specialized type of respiratory therapist who plays an essential role in the care of patients suffering from complex respiratory conditions.
Under the leadership of a supervising physician, the APRT would be trained to assess patients, develop care plans, place orders, and evaluate and modify care based on each patient’s response to therapy. APRTs are highly trained professionals who have obtained advanced degrees, allowing them to provide comprehensive care to patients with respiratory issues. They have the skills and knowledge necessary to diagnose and treat patients who have been hospitalized due to respiratory problems. Since most Respiratory Therapy programs have or are currently transitioning to Bachelor Degrees, APRT would be a Master’s or in some cases maybe even Doctorate level degree program. Similar to Nurse practitioners to RNs, APRT would provide Respiratory Therapists with career advancement specialized within their field. With their specialized training, APRTs would play an important role in improving patient outcomes in the world of respiratory care.
What’s the need for an APRT??
The gap in care between persons with cardiopulmonary disease and cardiopulmonary providers is a significant problem that has been recognized by healthcare professionals in recent years. One strategy for resolving this problem is to reduce the administrative burden associated with current care and ensure the availability of suitably trained providers. Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapists (APRTs) are a key part of this solution, as they are trained to provide advanced-level respiratory care to patients with complex cardiopulmonary conditions. By filling this gap in care, APRTs can help to ensure that patients receive the care they need, while also reducing the burden on healthcare providers and improving overall health outcomes. As the demand for APRTs continues to grow, we will likely see more strategies and approaches developed to address this important issue in healthcare.
How one can Become an APRT?
If you’re interested in becoming an APRT, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you’ll need to be a practicing Respiratory Therapist. The only program that exists at the time of this post is at Ohio State University (there’s a link at the bottom of the post). Though there have been talks of other programs in the works. The curriculum has been established by CoArc who are in charge of accrediting RT schools. If you’re up for the challenge, there’s no doubt that becoming an APRT can be an incredibly fulfilling career choice.
The Future of APRT
The future of Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapy (APRT) is promising, even though the profession is still relatively new. The recent hiring of the first-ever APRT by the Veteran Affairs Healthcare system is a significant step forward, as it demonstrates a growing recognition of the value that APRTs can bring to the healthcare field. One of the biggest challenges facing any new medical profession is gaining state legislative approval for licensing, and the fact that an APRT has been hired by a major healthcare system is a positive sign that this hurdle is being overcome. The next challenge is to have more healthcare facilities incorporate APRTs into their environment, which will require a change in healthcare delivery. Finally, it will be important for physicians and other healthcare professionals to acknowledge the legitimacy of APRTs and the value they can provide to patients. As the profession continues to grow and gain recognition, more and more healthcare facilities will likely begin to incorporate APRTs into their teams, ultimately leading to improved patient care and outcomes.
In conclusion, an Advance Practice Respiratory Therapist is a necessary role in healthcare and its need will only continue to grow. Becoming an APRT may one day just be the career you are looking for to provide care in innovative ways. With its ever-evolving future and growing demand, APRTs will begin to help bridge a gap between patients in need and providers. It’s a unique and rewarding profession that will lead to lasting impactful change in the healthcare industry. If you’re thinking of leaping into the field of Respiratory Care, now would be the perfect time to explore your options. APRTs will be doing amazing things for those they serve and help push medicine forward in new and innovative ways. How do you feel about APRT? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Master your craft even more by checking out these links for more info:
https://www.aarc.org/an23-vamhcs-hires-nations-first-ever-advanced-practice-respiratory-therapist/
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(19)34017-6/fulltext
https://coarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CoARC-APRT-Standards-11.13.2016-clarif-12.20.pdf
