Ways to Recognize Respiratory Care Week at Your Facility

Respiratory therapists (RTs) serve a vital healthcare role, caring for patients like the more than 34 million Americans who live with a chronic lung condition. To ensure that these important efforts aren’t overlooked, you may be looking for meaningful respiratory care week ideas to implement at your facility. This special, annual celebration offers a meaningful opportunity to honor an essential member of the care team, similar to the better-known nurses week.

So, when is national respiratory therapists week and what can you do to participate in it? Here, you’ll discover the details, significance, and purpose of this event alongside suggestions for how you can celebrate the specialized staff who deserve to be spotlighted.

What Is Respiratory Care Week’s Significance?

This week-long event is dedicated to recognizing the work of respiratory therapists across the nation. It offers facility leadership the chance to express gratitude for a care team member whose expertise contributes to better patient outcomes every day, yet often with limited public recognition.

In addition to celebrating these professionals, respiratory therapy week is also used to raise awareness about lung conditions. Healthcare organizations, staff, patients, and community members all come together throughout the week to exchange and learn new information about respiratory health.

When Is Respiratory Care Week?

RT week is held annually during the last full week of October. It coincides with National Healthy Lung Month, which is more broadly dedicated to educating the public and advocating for respiratory health and medicine.

This event was first held in 1982, a year after President Ronald Reagan underwent lung surgery for a gunshot wound. Respiratory therapists on his care team played an important role in his recovery, inspiring Reagan to proclaim this week as a way to honor their work.

5 Ways to Recognize Respiratory Care at Your Facility

As a facility leader, it’s important to recognize and spread awareness about all the effort that your respiratory therapists put in each and every day. Not only does this help boost staff morale, but it also fosters a stronger connection with the healthcare community at large. Below are five ways that you can help celebrate this annual event.

1. Host Special Events for Your Respiratory Care Workers

First and foremost, this week should be used to recognize and celebrate the contributions of your respiratory care workers. One great way to do this is by hosting special events at your facility. These events may consist of free food, staff awards, or guest speakers who spotlight your respiratory therapists and thank them for all of their hard work.

You can also celebrate your respiratory care staff by finding ways to make their work week more enjoyable. For example, offering free, on-site food trucks or meal vouchers is a nice way to ensure that your respiratory therapists don’t have to worry about preparing and buying food throughout the week.

2. Provide Meaningful Staff Appreciation Gifts

You can also show appreciation for your staff by giving out respiratory care week gifts. These gifts don’t need to be extravagant. They can be as simple as a personalized thank you letter and a gift card to each of your staff members’ favorite restaurants or shops. You might also consider assembling gift baskets with items that promote self-care and relaxation. As long as your gifts are sincere and thoughtful, your staff will appreciate your efforts.

3. Schedule Interactive, Community Activities

Beyond expressing your appreciation for your staff, this week also serves as an opportunity to forge deeper connections with your community. Consider hosting professional health fairs or seminars that patients, families, and professionals can attend to learn more about respiratory medicine. You can also inspire the next generation of respiratory therapists by sending staff to local schools to educate youth about respiratory health careers.

You might also consider supporting the professional development of your respiratory workers by funding trips to health conferences or workshops. This will enable your staff to share more of their own work and also learn new skills from other professionals throughout the country.

4. Host a Fundraiser for Respiratory Health

Hosting a fundraiser is a great way to raise awareness while making impactful contributions to respiratory medicine and research. Consider organizing a walkathon, auction, or public dinner that brings the community together and helps raise funds for a respiratory care foundation of your choice. If your budget allows for it, you can also consider matching contributions from the public.

5. Raise Awareness Through Social Media

Another effective way to spread awareness is by promoting respiratory health on your social media channels. Consider sharing staff spotlights to recognize your respiratory therapists more publicly and showcase their contributions to the broader community.

You can also run educational campaigns to highlight the importance of maintaining lung health, preventing illness, and managing chronic respiratory conditions. Not only does this help keep the community more informed, but it also demonstrates your facility’s commitment to promoting public health and safety.

Continue Building a Positive Work Culture

When is national respiratory care week’s best planning timeframe and how can its beneficial effects be extended throughout the year? Find answers to many of your strategy- and culture-based healthcare questions through our wide range of expert-backed facility guides and management insights.