Tag: Respiratory Therapist
Chrysalis Ashton’s mission to elevate RTs
September 25, 2026Liz Beaulieu, Editor
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Drive Medical’s Chrysalis Ashton recently spoke with HME News about the need to elevate the role of respiratory therapists in the home and the workforce challenges the profession faces.
In August, Drive Medical named Ashton, MSRC, RRT, as head of clinical respiratory affairs and industry relations, a role that combines clinical expertise with advocacy, education and collaboration across the respiratory care community. She currently serves as vice chair...
Symposium offers education, connection for respiratory professionals
September 25, 2026Theresa Flaherty
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – This year’s Smoky Mountain Symposium, an education event for respiratory professionals organized by Encore Healthcare, offers a respite from the “battleground” of patient care to learn and connect, says Joe Kalis, director of business solutions.
“It’s nice to get in a room full of like-minded people who are facing the same struggles and talk about patient care,” he said.
Spotlight on emerging respiratory care trends
The two-day...
Drive Medical appoints Chrysalis Ashton to lead respiratory clinical affairs
August 10, 2026HME News Staff
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Drive Medical has appointed Chrysalis Ashton, MSRC, RRT, as head of respiratory clinical affairs and industry relations to strengthen provider engagement, educational initiatives and industry partnerships. She will also serve as a key advisor across the company’s respiratory business. "Chrysalis has built an impressive career at the intersection of clinical care, compliance, education and advocacy," said Nora Coleman, executive vice president, general...
University, Viemed open new center to draw RTs to field
September 15, 2025HME News Staff
EUNICE, La. - Louisiana State University Eunice and Viemed Healthcare held a dedication ceremony recently for the newly named Viemed Respiratory Care Laboratory inside the Health Technology Building on campus.
Lafeyette, La.-based Viemed invested $100,000 to renovate and upgrade equipment, including a new medical air-gas system.
“At Viemed, our mission has always been to improve the quality of life for patients through exceptional respiratory care,” said Casey Hoyt, CEO of Viemed....
Health system opens home medical shop
June 27, 2022HME News Staff
MASON CITY, Iowa – MercyOne Albert Lea Home Medical Shop has opened at the southeast entrance to the mall in Albert Lea. At the shop, customers will find medical equipment to make life at home easier, including bathroom aids, walkers, breast pumps and more. For CPAP, BiPAP, oxygen and ventilator needs, there are respiratory therapists on staff. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to the area by adding our home medical shop to the list of services MercyOne has to offer,”...
HME/RT Council has new leaders
January 25, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - Missy Cross, administrative director of ProMedica, has taken the reins as chairwoman of AAHomecare's HME/RT Council, after two years of serving as vice chair. Al Neumann, co-owner of Corner Home Medical, will now serve as vice chair. Both Cross and Neumann have been actively involved in the industry. Cross, recipient of the inaugural Van Miller Homecare Champion Award in 2016, also sits on the board of directors of AAHomecare and the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services....
Role of RTs expanding in new 02 climate
July 25, 2016John Andrews
Respiratory therapists are feeling the greatest impact from the new austere environment for oxygen provision, as efforts to cut costs are changing their roles and workloads, says Vernon Pertelle, president and CEO of StratiHealth, a Los Angeles-based consulting and healthcare administration firm.
For sheer context on healthcare operations, Pertelle has a panoramic view of the continuum. Before founding StratiHealth in 2012, he spent more than two decades in executive positions for Kaiser Permanente,...
Trial seeks to promote respiratory therapists
May 16, 2014Leah Hoenen
LOS ANGELES - A new trial is examining the value of respiratory therapists, but its sponsor hopes it will lead the HME industry to think more about clinical services than reimbursement.
Industry veteran Vernon Pertelle's company StratiHealth is behind a trial to determine the benefit of education and case management by respiratory therapists on improvements in health outcomes and quality of life for COPD patients. Enrollment by invitation began in March, and StratiHealth wants 100 patients...
Game's changing for home oxygen
April 1, 2011HME News Staff
ORLANDO - Much has been made of the Medicare reimbursement (or the increasing lack thereof) for home oxygen therapy. But what about the benefits of this therapy, when it's done right? Shouldn't physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists be focusing on that? And if they do, won't reimbursement take care of itself?
Bob McCoy thinks so. Here's what McCoy, a respiratory therapist and the managing director of Valley Inspired Products, had to say about this “game-changing”...
The days of the Golden Commode are over
March 19, 2010Mike Moran
Check out this email I received a few weeks ago from a provider I've known for a while and respect:
I continue to be uncomfortable with the headline of your (blog), Golden Commode. This was a derogatory term used during the 70s and early 80s by Medicare and others to point out perceived abuses and inappropriate advantages that providers took of the billing system then in place. It is not a term that I used and I have always seen it as offensive. It may be accurate of an unflattering past,...