Reflections on RT Week 2020
RT WEEK is a week for us to showcase and shine, celebrating our profession as well as educating others about the remarkable work that we do.The week usually involves lots of social events, celebrations, education, and food.
In 2020, we were forced to adjust our celebrations to the times – a little different for sure, but we certainly had so much to be thankful for!
RTSO RT Week Highlights
E-Cards, Social Media Posts & Daily E-Blasts
We kicked off RT Week in advance, with great messaging and the posting of our e-cards to send to colleagues. We also made sure we planned ahead to highlight and celebrate the many different aspects of the RTSO and/or the profession daily, through E-Blasts and Social Media posts.
Recognition and Thanks
Being recognized during RT Week by Hon. Christine Elliott & Premier Doug Ford, among others, was an exceptional honour this year. If you missed these monumental shout-outs, the videos are posted to https://www.rtso.ca
Social Media was buzzing with heartfelt messages of recognition, thanks, advocacy and support; we were tagged in many wonderful posts…thank you!
There were also many RT Week Proclamations…Toronto, Brampton, Burlington, and so many more! Thank you to all who contributed to make these happen!
Virtual Learning Opportunities
There were numerous amazing and FREE virtual educational offerings – it was absolutely incredible! There were times when we had to choose between two great talks scheduled at the same time!
The RTSO would like to extend thanks to our many supporters, and we’d like to thank all of YOU for choosing Respiratory Therapy!
T-Shirt Sales/Fundraiser
T-Shirt sales from the RTSO/Toronto Tees design contest continued, and we raised money in support of Feed Ontario!
#HCWS4FOOD
Many of you also continued to rise to the #HCWS4FOOD Challenge (thanks, Southlake Regional Health Centre!), raising sizable donations in support of #HCWS4FOOD. Thank you for giving back to your communities!
Student Affairs Committee – RT Programs – Door Decorating Contest
The RTSO Student Affairs Committee (SAC) challenged Ontario schools with RT Programs to decorate a door/wall of their school to promote the profession for RT Week. There were prizes for the best design!
The winners were Fanshawe College and Conestoga College.
Check out these great doors!
St. Clair College
Canadore College
The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
Fanshawe College
October 25, 2020
The CN Tower was lit in RTSO colours of purple & orange. Thanks to Janis Sihvonen for sharing this image.
October 26, 2020
RTSO / AstraZeneca webinar: “The Management of Asthma From Mild to Severe Has Changed – What You Need to Know”
Niagara Falls was lit in RTSO colours of of purple & orange. Special thanks to The Niagara Falls Illumination Board for granting the RTSO’s RT Week lighting request.
October 27, 2020
[E-Blast] The Fall issue of RTSO Airwaves was released.
We also distributed an actionable letter for sharing with your MPP, in order to lobby for support to improve our ability to use ultrasound equipment. The RTSO continues to move forward in discussions with the Ministry of Health to have this regulation opened and amended to include Respiratory Therapists in the use of ultrasound.
October 28, 2020
[E-Blast] The Leadership Committee shared a touching message to Ontario RTs.
In addition, messages went out across Social Media from various members of the Leadership Committee. Amazing!
October 29, 2020
RTSO webinar: “Debunking COVID-19 Myths – What We Have Learned So Far”
[E-Blast] The RTSO Research Interest Group (RIG) shared messaging on the importance of ongoing research, as well as some self-care tips and links to information and supports.
In addition, 6 previously recorded RTSO webinar links were included, just in case you missed them!
October 30, 2020
RTSO webinar: “It’s All About You – Meeting the Personal /Professional Challenges Facing RT’s in a COVID World”
[E-Blast] We highlighted Primary Care in today’s messaging, where Suzanne B. and Mirela M. shared their experiences with role change due to the pandemic.
The RTSO Student Affairs Committee (SAC) sponsored a Respookatory Virtual Trivia Night for RT students across the province, which was a fun social event that challenged teams knowledge and also provided a social network for students from different schools to connect. There were event sponsors and prizes! The SAC would like to thank AstraZeneca, McArthur Medical, Novus Medical, and ProResp!
October 31, 2020
[RT Week Closing Message]
The RTSO wants to thank countless people across Ontario. Respiratory Therapists across this province demonstrated unbelievable resilience, leadership, and dedication despite the increased pressures and demands on our profession. In the interest of improving awareness of RT’s and creating improved opportunities for RT collaboration the RTSO board of directors decided to purchase services from the government advocacy agency Stosic & Associates. Part of the deliverables include increased awareness around our profession and our impact on patient care in Ontario. Collaboration with Stosic & Associates directly resulted in the announcements from both Hon. Christine Elliott and Premier Doug Ford. We take full responsibility for those announcements and are very proud of this accomplishment. I think we can all say that we are incredibly happy to be recognized!
It is interesting to reflect back on 2019 when Sue Jones stood up at INSPIRE and let the membership know that the RTSO was at risk of closing due to a very bleak financial situation. Fast forward to our 2020 AGM where Sue Martin presented that we have a balanced budget, despite not being able to generate revenue from an annual educational event. This is a massive success and is due to everyone who has supported the organization. We share this success with all of you from volunteers on the Board and committees, to those of you who have joined to support the organization, and with our corporate members who have supported the RTSO in joining as members and in supporting webinars. All of this support has allowed us to focus on what is important to RT’s and to create a relevant strategic plan. Your support enabled the RTSO to be responsive to COVID-19 and your needs as this pandemic evolved. When the pandemic pay initiative surfaced, we were fortunate enough to be included due to your emails to political leaders and the start of a wonderful relationship with Stosic & Associates. This partnership has created a pathway for improved relationship building, creating awareness and introducing the addition of Respiratory Therapy into key legislative changes. We continue to engage with the government to realize our goals relating to scope of practice, PTSD, and involvement of RT’s for improvements in clinical practice and patient care.
Not taking a back seat at all are the excellent learning opportunities that have taken place during this pandemic and over RT Week 2020. The RTSO is proud to have been responsive to RT’s and their evolving learning needs. Using virtual technology, we held the RTSO Annual General Meeting (AGM) to provide the membership with the opportunity to hear about the work and successes the RTSO has realized over the past year.
Another great outcome of our work this year is the increased interest in RTSO involvement and membership. Annually there is turnover of Directors on the Board. This year we posted several positions and received an impressive response with applications for each outgoing Director. This is a positive change, as in the past several years recruitment proved to be difficult and was often a result of current board members directly reaching out to members. We are so proud to see interest increasing and hope that this continues as members see the value of this organization and how we can improve your daily practice.
