This was my second year working behind the scenes of the Chattanooga Chapter TSRC Fall Seminar. The seminar was held Friday, October 6, 2017 at Erlanger Hospital’s Probasco Auditorium. I have to say, working with the other volunteers was a blast. The day started off with a great breakfast and catching up with old co-workers and classmates from respiratory school.

Chris Surike, Clinical Sales Specialist, from Vyaire Medical started the seminar off with an excellent lecture on Adult High Frequency Oscillation. Victor Czerkasij, NP from Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center followed, and spoke on applying ethical standards in healthcare, as well as, entertained the crowd with some very humorous stories! Following a break, to visit with the vendors and see some cool respiratory products, Chris Lynn, MSHA, RRT, NPS AE-C, Area Clinical Specialist from Vapotherm engaged the audience with a presentation on using High Velocity Nasal Insufflation Intervention in the emergency room setting. In the afternoon session, Angela Wagler, RRT from Teleflex, talked about Patient Safety and Protecting the Ventilated Patient from Hospital Acquired Infections. The day closed on a high note when BREAS speaker, Jim Eddins, RRT, RPFT, Clinical Sales Specialists presented on EtCO2 Monitoring and its application in the clinical practice. If you missed out this fall, mark your calendars for Friday, May 11th, 2018 and come be a part of the Chattanooga Chapter TSRC Spring Seminar at Erlanger Hospital’s Probasco Auditorium!

Randy Ramirez, RRT
Respiratory Care Educator/Neonatal & Transport Team at Erlanger Hospital

Photos: Chattanooga Chapter 2017 Fall Seminar

Thank you to the following vendors that supported the TSRC 2017 Chattanooga Chapter’s Fall Seminar:

Breas Medical, Draeger, Grifols, Hill-Rom, Hollister, Kol-Bio-Medical, Masimo, Medtronic, Mercury Medical, Ottawa University, Philips, Sunovion, Teleflex, Vapotherm, Vyaire Medical

The Tennessee Society for Respiratory Care (TSRC) held their Fall Seminar in the Probasco Auditorium at ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM on Friday, October 21st. It was a standing room only crowd with the largest participant turn-out in the TSRC’s history. Multiple vendors attended as sponsors of the TSRC and the area respiratory therapists that attended from several states across the southeastern United States.

Erlanger Respiratory Therapists are required to participate in both in-person and on-line Continuing Education Courses throughout the year as a condition of maintaining their NBRC credential and their state licensure. The Seminar topics included: “The Evolution of Aerosol Therapy,” “The Future of Pulmonary Disease Management: Through the eyes of the RT Navigator,” “Ethics,” “Airway Clearance Therapy,” “Respiratory’s Role in Improving Outcomes in the Post-Op Setting,” “Bronchiolitis Caused by RSV; A Clinical Review.”

Erlanger’s own RT Navigators, Derek Lester RRT and Takesha Pratt, BS, MBA, RRT, held the audience’s attention with their presentation on the inception, development and implementation of the RT Navigator program throughout the ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM. Besides spearheading the Smoking Cessation Program, RT Navigators are instrumental in guiding our pulmonary patients through the ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM and beyond as they transition to home care. Lester and Pratt also discussed the challenges that face the ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM COPD Program along with the COPD Program’s future goals and objectives as it meshes with the Hospital’s Mission.

Comment: I have attended TSRC Chattanooga Chapter Seminars in the past, however, the 2016 Fall Seminar (Friday, Oct. 21st) was the first one I had the opportunity of working. Over 160 people pre-registered for the seminar and we had over a dozen walkups! According to Chattanooga Chapter President, Terry Ellis, Jr. this was the largest seminar in Chattanooga Chapter history! The day was non-stop with great speakers presenting current and useful material. I had the opportunity to visit with vendors and see some new exciting products. I saw old classmates, co-workers, and even made a few new friends. If you missed out on this event, the 2017 Spring Seminar is just around the corner!

Randy Ramirez, RRT
Respiratory Care Department Educator
Neonatal Transport
ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM