SENATE RESOLUTION 43

(By Senators Takubo, Caputo, Rucker, Lindsay, Jeffries, and Stollings)

[Introduced February 28, 2022]

Recognizing all West Virginia respiratory therapists during the month of March and the outstanding contributions of West Virginia Respiratory Therapists to patient care.

Whereas, Respiratory therapists are the front-line experts in ventilator management and have worked tirelessly to care for patients in critical need before and during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency; and

Whereas, Respiratory therapists are the only allied health professionals clinically educated in all aspects of pulmonary medicine and who treat and care for patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system; and

Whereas, Respiratory therapists’ expertise is applicable in many settings, including, but not limited to, various in-patient and out-patient facilities (such as acute care, urgent care, long-term care, subacute care, skilled nursing facilities), physicians’ offices, sleep laboratories and clinics, and patients’ homes; and

Whereas, Respiratory therapists’ invaluable contributions to the health care system and their patients’ health and well-being too often go unrecognized; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate recognizes all West Virginia respiratory therapists during the month of March and the outstanding contributions of West Virginia Respiratory Therapists to patient care; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Society for Respiratory Care and the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.