http://www.cobgrte.org/2015papers.html
"Medicine is continually changing, with new approaches to disease management emerging almost daily. Third-party payers are challenging payment for iatrogenic injury and some established therapies. Manpower issues, including aging of the workforce, are affecting all medical disciplines. To address these issues the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) established a task force to "envision the RT of the future." The goal of was to identify potential new roles and responsibilities for respiratory therapists in the year 2015 and beyond, and to suggest the elements of education, training, and competency-documentation needed to assure safe and effective practice. It was decided to hold a series of 3 conferences. The objective of the first conference was to identify the emerging values of the United States' evolving health-care delivery system; and to define potential new roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists in 2015 and beyond." (From Kacmarek RM, Durbin CG, Barnes TA, Kageler WV, Walton JR, O'Neil EH. Creating a vision for respiratory care in 2015 and beyond. 2009 Mar;54(3):375-89.)
