SCCC/ATS Respiratory Therapy Program Accredited

The Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Respiratory Therapy program completed an annual review process with the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and has met or exceeded its �??thresholds�?� for success on each required outcome.

The threshold levels are based on program graduate and employer satisfaction surveys, as well as credentialing success and job placement data. SCCC/ATS respiratory therapy students are employed in healthcare facilities throughout the United States as well as providing more than 90 percent of employed respiratory therapists within 150 miles of Liberal.

The program was also recently notified of CoARC approval for a new curriculum revision, which allows the completion of science, algebra, and other general education courses prior to admission to the newly revised program with the start date now in the spring semester each year. This change will allow an additional 176 hours of clinical education experience in partnering clinical facilities while maintaining a 24-month Associate in Applied Science degree program.

The SCCC/ATS respiratory therapy program currently affiliates with healthcare facilities in Liberal, Garden City, Dodge City, Ulysses, Meade, Hugoton, Pratt, Hays, Guymon, Amarillo, and Lubbock, Texas.

The 2012 Annual Report of Current Status and Resource Assessment Matrix was submitted for approval to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to determine ongoing compliance with accreditation Standards and CoARC Accreditation Policies and Procedures.

The Commission commended the staff for their commitment to continuous quality improvement in education, as demonstrated by their participation in programmatic accreditation.

Program staff include Ed Anderson, Respiratory Therapy instructor/coordinator and Ken Killion, clinical coordinator/instructor.