Piedmont Technical College

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The respiratory care practitioner is trained to assist the medical staff with the treatment, management and care of patients with cardiopulmonary abnormalities or deficiencies.

Respiratory care is used primarily in the treatment of heart and lung diseases such as cardiac failure, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and shock. With instruction in anatomy and physiology, respiratory physics, pharmacology and clinical training, the graduate of this program is prepared to provide care in various medical facilities.

Proficiency in all aspects of respiratory care, including diagnostic, rehabilitative and therapeutic applications, prepares the student to take the entry and advanced level exam. The graduate will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science with a major in Respiratory Care.

The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas 76021, (817) 283-2835 (www.coarc.com).

Admission: Health Science programs have special program admission criteria which must be completed prior to applying for the clinical phase of the program. A student may be admitted to the college at any time in order to complete prerequisite and general education course work. For more detailed information, please go to the Health Science and Nursing Resources.

Program Location: Greenwood

Contact Information: Ann Allen

Required Courses

Day Program

* Major Studies Courses: Completion of the Associate in Applied Science with a major in Respiratory Care requires six (6) semesters upon acceptance to the major studies course work.

Updated 4/8/2013

Advisement Information

• Completion of the RES program requires six semesters once accepted into the program. Twenty-two students are accepted each year to begin RES clinical courses in the fall semester.

• RES courses are offered in the day only at the Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood. Labs are scheduled every semester, so students should plan to be on campus 1-2 days a week until 3:00-4:00 p.m. Clinicals may be scheduled on days, evenings, nights, and weekends in Greenwood, Laurens, Abbeville, Newberry and Anderson Counties. Clinicals start at 6:45 a.m., and occasionally, evenings are required. Students should not work more than 20 hours/week when clinicals start and should have a backup system in place for daycare and transportation before the semester begins.

• Requirements for Clinical Entry: To be eligible to apply for clinical entry, student must have successful completion of WorkKeys meeting Silver level (4) in all testing areas, English Composition I (ENG 101), Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 210), General Psychology (PSY 201), and Intermediate Algebra (MAT 102) or Probability and Statistics (MAT 120) with a 2.5 GPA or better. Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 211) and the humanities/fine arts elective should be completed before clinical entry.

• College placement test scores may indicate a student's need for developmental or prerequisite courses prior to higher level college courses. These courses should be completed before progression into required Program-Ready courses. Strong background in science and math is recommended. It is also highly recommended that students take Introduction to Computers (CPT 101), Medical Terminology (AHS 102) and Ethics and Law for Health Professionals (AHS 205) while taking Program-Ready and General Education courses.

• A minimum 2.0 GPA is required for progression once in the clinical stage of the program. Students in the clinical program will only have one opportunity to repeat a failed or withdrawn semester. Two failed or withdrawn semesters will make the student ineligible to continue in the clinical program.

• Physical and Mental Standards: It is recommended that students explore their reaction to all kinds of body fluids, unpleasant odors, and dangerous/contagious diseases. Students must be in adequate physical and mental condition to participate and function within the program and clinical environment. Read the Physical and Mental Standards chart for more information.

• Background Check and Drug Screening: Students are required to have an initial criminal background check and drug screening upon acceptance into the clinical phase of the program. This cost is borne to the student and is currently $80.85. A positive report on either may prevent the student from being accepted by a clinical facility which will not allow the student to progress in the program or take the licensure exam. Additional drug screenings will occur throughout the clinical program as requested by the clinical facility. The cost of these screenings will also be borne to the student.

• Health Requirements and Immunizations: Students accepted into the clinical courses will be required to provide written documentation to the Health Records Assistant of the following: physical exam completed within one year; two-step Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) upon admission, then an annual one-step TST thereafter; two Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) and Varicella immunizations or positive titers; three Hepatitis B immunizations or a positive titer; Tetanus vaccine within the last 10 years; annual Influenza vaccine recommended.

• CPR and Hospital Orientation: All students will be required to have CPR certification by the date of their first clinical. All accepted students will have the opportunity to take CPR training (AHS 106) and receive proper certification determined by the program coordinator. Students that plan to seek certification outside of the college must have Healthcare Provider training through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. A copy of certification must be submitted to the department's Health Records Assistant. Yearly attendance at the Hospital Orientation presented on campus is mandatory.

• Program Costs: In addition to tuition, fees, and books, other costs may include but are not limited to an equipment bag ($90), stethoscope ($50), shoes ($90), insurance ($30/year), a physical ($100) and vaccinations ($130), Self Assessment Exam ($140); Review Seminar ($250) and AARC membership ($50/year). AARC membership, insurance, Self Assessment Exam and Review Seminar are assessed in tuition. Dollar amounts are estimates.

• For additional career information, view the video at http://aarc.org/career/be_an_rt/index.cfm

• The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 1248 Harwood Rd, Bedford, TX 76021-4244, (817) 283-2835.

Advisement Information updated 5/12/2012