Thomas Kallstrom, MBA, RRT, FAARC to Deliver Keynote Address at the 1st Annual Pulmonary Horizons (PH) COPD Conference in San Diego, CA on August 16-17, 2014
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 13, 2014 -- The Pulmonary Horizons (PH) Conference Program Committee is pleased to announce that Thomas Kallstrom, MBA, RRT, FAARC, Executive Director and CEO of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) will be delivering the keynote address at the conference.
The PH conference will be held at the DoubleTree Golf Resort in San Diego, on Saturday, August 16, 2014 and Sunday, August 17, 2014. This unique program will bring together key stakeholders who have a shared goal of balancing the treatment and management of patients diagnosed with COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is estimated to affect 32 million persons in the United States and is the fourth leading cause of death in this country.
Said Vernon R Pertelle, MBA, RRT, executive director of Pulmonary Horizons programs: “Tom’s clinical philosophies are patient-centric and he has contributed to the advancement of respiratory therapists in innovative roles in support of better patient care and outcomes.” Joseph Lewarski, BS, RRT, FAARC, vice president of clinical affairs at Invacare, shares Pertelle’s view of Tom and added: “Tom and I have worked together over the years, as clinicians and in various leadership roles on behalf of the AARC’s membership.” “He has always been passionate about solutions to improve patient outcomes through the use of respiratory therapists.” Robert McCoy, BS, RRT, FAARC; associate executive director, Pulmonary Horizons programs added: “Tom has been focused on the inclusion of the respiratory therapist in important roles as extenders alongside physicians in the clinic environment as well as integrating RTs in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) to help improve the outcomes of patients with COPD in their homes.” McCoy added: “conference attendees will gain a greater understanding of the AARC’s view and Tom is the excellent choice to deliver the keynote address.”
Pulmonary Horizons programs are designed to help meet the complex needs of managing patients with COPD. The goals of the conference are to increase knowledge and support the various stakeholders by providing evidence-based information and new methods with a unique focus on the patient's perspective; the various respiratory care medical devices used to augment treatment plans, and strategies and tactics to increase the use of resources such as respiratory therapists in non-traditional environments to help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.
Said Pertelle: "The program endeavors to: Promote patient health and well-being by teaching the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to ensure excellence in practice; Encourage innovative and responsible methods of managing and delivering high quality, cost-effective, accessible health care; Integrate Respiratory Therapists and new knowledge, methods and solutions within Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs); Respond to current and emerging public health challenges both locally and nationally; and Cultivate partnerships among health care organizations, providers, allied health care workers, patients and community organizations."
Brian W. Carlin, MD, pulmonologist and member of the Pulmonary Horizons program committee, said: "Having Tom as the keynote speaker for this summer's conference, will set the stage for the entire meeting and I am certain that attendees will gain great insight from his message.” Dr. Carlin added: “The American Association for Respiratory Care is the largest respiratory therapist organization in the world and Tom has a superb understanding of the issues that are truly unique to our patients with COPD.”
To learn more about Pulmonary Horizons, educational program, visit: http://www.pulmonaryhorizons.com.
To learn more about the American Association for Respiratory Care, visit: http://www.aarc.org.
About Pulmonary Horizons
The mission of Pulmonary Horizons (PH) is to offer the highest quality medical education in a learning environment that fosters critical thinking, encourages professional leadership, inspires research, and instills a strong appreciation of evidence-based knowledge in the treatment and management of patients diagnosed with COPD.
About the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients and their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist.
Vernon R. Pertelle, Pulmonary Horizons, http://www.pulmonaryhorizons.com, +1 (760) 473-0368, [email protected]
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