Hello fellow RRTs! We hope you are all doing well. 

We have completed the first quarter of 2022 and we are still wondering where the time went. So much has happened and we want to share how we have been working on your behalf over the last few months! 

We began in early December with a face-to-face meeting to build our strategic plan. We had the help of a wonderful group based in Montreal, TANK Worldwide. They are a global health and wellness advertising agency. They provided us their time and expertise for a second meeting in early January to do some tactical planning. Their time and talent were provided at no cost because we are a volunteer organization and our RRTs have been on the frontlines from the beginning of the pandemic and fighting each day to save as many lives as possible. 

We have had the opportunity to be in front of the Government several times since late January to discuss health human resources, mental health, and overall awareness of RRTs to name a few topics. There is receptivity from the Ministry of Health to hear more from the RTSO and how RRTs can be part of the solution to improving outcomes for patients in Ontario. We are excited by the momentum and the RTSO focus over the next quarter is to consider next steps and capture our ideas to share back during the next engagement. We will welcome a new Government in early June and circle back with them in late summer to keep RRTs top of mind. RRTs are a key part of the healthcare continuum in Ontario! 

We Asked You … 

We have spent a considerable amount of time connecting with YOU, our members, to better understand what is on your mind, and what is important to you as an RRT in Ontario. In early January we shared a survey with you “Ready to have your say” and during the month of March we held several focus groups where we discussed everything respiratory and how the RTSO can continue to advocate for you and your colleagues. The feedback we have received is invaluable and we are hopeful you will feel that you have been heard as we further refine our strategic plan to focus on what is most important to YOU.

An initiative coming from the “Ready to have your say” survey highlighted the need to compile a complete list of hospital leaders in Ontario. There is a gap in representation from hospitals outside of the GTA. In fact, there are approximately 200 hospitals across ON and contact is underway with 85 reached to date. This database will be used to network and engage with leaders and build a cohesive community of RRTs.  Speaking of network, a collaborative effort with several of our board members and community leaders are working to quantify and provide data regarding patients with a tracheostomy who will transition to the community. This initiative will assist these patients to safely transition from the hospital to the community with an RRT involved with discharge and follow on in the community. Key outcome measures will include improved quality of life for the patient and reduced or no requirement for readmission to hospital. 

INSPIRE Conference Planning is Underway … 

Our INSPIRE and 50th Anniversary planning committee have been meeting since late February. We have connected with several of our corporate sponsors and there is excitement from them to be part of the conference which will be face to face later this Fall. Stay tuned for more details and keynote speaker.   

Finally, we are delighted to have been able to meet and have dialogue with our colleagues at the CRTO and the CSRT to discuss collaboration and how to maximize our presence together. It is our hope to have regular meetings through the coming months. 

We are hopeful you felt the energy of everything that the RTSO is doing to support YOU in Ontario. Please remember that we are a volunteer and not-for-profit organization. Your paid membership is what allows us to work on your behalf. 

As always, we are an email away and look forward to staying in touch with you over the coming months. 

On behalf of your RTSO Board of Directors