By Jerome M. Sullivan, PhD, RRT, FAARC

Four members of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH) staff completed a two-city exchange program for respiratory care training, education, and clinical observation in the United States. The visitors represented the departments of respiratory therapy, critical care medicine, and nursing. The exchange visit was offered Oct. 14-21, 2016, in San Antonio and Dallas, TX.

This invitation was extended on behalf of Thomas Kallstrom, MBA, RRT, FAARC, executive director of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), and myself, as president of the International Council for Respiratory Care (ICRC). The visit was intended to strengthen and expand our relationship with CJFH and the Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS), and to explore ways to promote the development of respiratory therapy in China. Representatives of the CJFH included:

• Qingyuan Zhan, MD, director of respiratory and critical care medicine
• Jingen Xai, MS, RT, lead therapist
• Yangling Shen, BS, RN, head nurse of respiratory and critical nursing
• Jing Sun, BS, RN

Thomas Kallstrom discusses potential opportunities for cooperation between CJFH and the AARC.

In San Antonio, the CJFH team began the exchange visit by attending the AARC’s 62nd International Respiratory Convention & Exhibition, Oct. 15-18. In addition, the team was invited to attend the ICRC Annual Business Meeting, which was held in conjunction with the AARC Congress on Mon., Oct. 17. The ICRC meeting was attended by more than 130 governors, organizational representatives, international fellows, and delegations representing 26 countries.

In the afternoon session of Oct. 17 they also visited the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for observation of respiratory care education program models at the bachelor and graduate levels. They were afforded the opportunity for clinical observation in a neonatal-pediatric facility as well.

The CJFH team at Medical City Hospital is pictured here with David Gibson, supervisor/educator of respiratory care services.

In Dallas, the CJFH team visited the AARC Executive Office. Leadership meetings with CJFH, AARC, and ICRC representatives centered on the potential for future Chinese RT education and training programs offered in concert with the AARC and CTS. Discussions addressed the possibility of certification/accreditation of future RT programs by CTS and the AARC, as well as the frequency of those programs and qualifications of the faculty and facilities.

A general overview of the AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines was also provided. Discussions occurred regarding several RT education program models, RT curriculum organization, overview of essential courses, and the Train the Trainer Program for RT faculty development.

Mark Valentine, president of Baylor Heart Hospital, greets representatives of the Chinese delegation and their AARC/ICRC hosts.

On their second day in Dallas the CJFH team and their U.S. colleagues toured and observed clinical systems at Baylor Heart Hospital and Medical City Hospital. During the luncheon session at Baylor Heart Hospital there were presentations on RT education program models and curriculum organization, and an overview of essential courses. This observational and instructional activity included site visits of respiratory care departments and emphasized RT hospital department structure and management and staffing principles. The team was also introduced to U.S. quality assessment of RT hospital service and treatment, and the uniform reporting of hospital patient records.

The AARC and the ICRC look forward to a long and successful relationship with CTS to achieve quality globalization of respiratory care for our patients.