Introduction and Scope of Practice:

Respiratory Therapists are allied health care professionals responsible for therapeutic and diagnostic aspects of patient care with diverse cardiopulmonary and related disorders. The scope of practice includes patients of all age groups and various areas of practice that includes, but not limited to different in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. (American Association of Respiratory Care; Position Statement; Scope of Practice- November 2018)

To become a qualified Respiratory Therapist, a candidate has to undergo rigorous training during his/her Bachelor Degree in Respiratory Therapy. Following the Bachelor Degree, he/she is eligible to do the Post-graduation (M.Sc.), specializing either in Adult Respiratory Care or in Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care. In India, there are only a few Universities that offer Post Graduation in Respiratory Therapy.

Amongst all of the aforementioned areas of scope of practice, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of various hospitals across the country are in the need of ICU trained Respiratory Therapists. Considering to enhance the scope of Respiratory Therapists in Critical Care settings, Indian Association of Respiratory Care (IARC) has joined hands with Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM), and developed a Unique Fellowship, intended for graduate Respiratory Therapists to equip them with sufficient academic and clinical knowledge to practice in Critical care.

The Fellowship in Advanced Respiratory Care- Adult Critical Care (FARC-ACC)is a one year (1 year) Fellowship designed to advance the knowledge and skills of a Respiratory therapist, who are working in the advanced clinical areas of Adult Critical Care. The Fellowship is a joint venture of IARC and ISCCM and follows the entry, coursework and exit requirements as set forth by both the societies.

Aim:

To design a structured Fellowship program for facilitating the specialization of Respiratory therapists to enhance their scope of practice in ICU..

Need of the Program:

There is a huge gap in the care of ICU patients associated with the advancement in disease specific mechanical ventilation strategies and ancillary therapies. Not many in the regular staff including medical registrars are competent to handle and troubleshoot issues arising out of this. Respiratory Therapists are allied health care professionals specialized in cardiopulmonary care and they can bridge the aforementioned gap in the clinical and technical areas of ICU.

Goals

To create a pool of formally trained Respiratory Therapists, who are specialized in Critical care, to effectively manage mechanical ventilation, advanced respiratory care and ancillary therapies. This will enhance practice of safe ventilation and facilitate improvement in quality markers like ventilator associated events.

Duration of the Program:

One year

Mode of Study:

Residential, Full time

Entry Requirements:

• Minimum Criteria is a Graduation in Respiratory Therapy, [i.e. B.Sc. Respiratory Therapy/ B.Sc. Respiratory Care Technology/ B.Sc. (Medical Technology) - Respiratory Therapy] from any of the UGC approved Universities in India.
• Graduate Respiratory Therapists from Foreign Universities, upon the decision from the Board of Fellowship Study
• Registered Member of IARC
• Associate Life Membership of ISCCM
• Fresh and Experienced Graduate Respiratory Therapists who fulfill the above criteria are eligible to apply

Fellowship Center:

All Critical Care Medicine Departments, accredited by the ISCCM for conducting its courses (IDCCM, CTCCM, IDCCN) will be eligible to enroll Respiratory Therapists for this course. Each center can take up to a maximum of 2 RTs for one academic year. The IDCCM teachers will be the mentor along with a designated faculty from IARC who will also perform the duties of mentor.

Entry Criteria:

The candidate shall apply directly to the Head of Department of Critical Care of the hospital. The selection will be based upon the interview conducted by the Head of the Department of ICU Hospital and HR personnel.

Fellowship Fees:

The student will pay a one-time fee of INR 10000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) to the ISCCM as listed on the website. The fee will take care of all expenses of the course including the conduct of exams

Fellowship Stipend:

As per the hospital policy [recommended not less than INR 25000/- (Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) per month for a period of 12 months = 1 academic year]

Log Book:

All the Fellows are expected to have a log book, in which the cases seen and procedures attended/ performed shall be noted (Minimum of 5 cases and 5 Procedures per week), and to get signed by the designated faculty assigned by the Head of the Department. Faculty should be the in-charge of monitoring and reviewing this logbook and provide continuous feedback to the trainee

Research, Journal Clubs and Publication:

• All the Fellows are expected to complete a mandatory research module during the initial three months of Fellowship (Either Online/ Onsite, Certificate to be submitted) and;
1. Complete a short thesis and get it published.
2. Publish a case study.
3. Publication should preferably be in the Indian Journal of Respiratory Care (IJRC) or Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine (IJCCM).
• Failure to obtain these mandatory certification and publication of articles will be considered to as incompletion of Fellowship coursework; The Fellowship certificate shall be issued only upon the completion of all required coursework.
• All Fellows are expected to actively participate in the ICU journal club with Case Presentations, Article Critique and Literature Reviews- All these need to be entered in the Logbook, countersigned by the Head of the Department/ Assigned Faculty

Additional Requirements:

Attendance of ISCCM National Conference Mandatory

Attendance and Paper Presentation in IARC National Conference during the Fellowship period Mandatory

Attendance of one ECMO conference and Certification optional

Participation in one of the Mechanical Ventilation Workshop conducted by IARC or ISCCM optional

Completion of Online Course module (webinars) conducted by IARC and ISCCM (mandatory) Mandatory

Attendance Requirements:

48 hours per week x 48 weeks in one calendar year; or, as per the Hospital Policy; or, as suggested by the Head of the Department of ICU.

Leaves:

As per the Hospital Policy

Teaching Methodology:

• Bedside Lectures
• Classroom Lectures
• Online Lectures- Zoom
• Webinars

Fellowship Coursework:

• Attendance requirement, as per the policy of department/ hospital
• Completion of Logbook, signed by the Head of the Department/ Assigned Faculty
• Case Study and Short thesis to be published
• Certificate of Attendance- IARC or ISCCM National Conferences
• One Mechanical Ventilation Workshop by IARC or ISCCM
• Certification of completion of online course modules, by IARC and ISCCM
• Completion of competency checklist, countersigned by the Head of the Department/ Assigned Faculty (Mandatory)
• Completion of competency checklist, countersigned by the Head of the Department/ Assigned Faculty (Mandatory)

Exit Exam

Upon the successful completion of Fellowship Program, the candidate will have an exit exam, comprising of Theory and Bedside Practical evaluation. The Examination Centre will be announced due course

• Theory: Objective MCQ

• Practical: Viva, OSCE and Bedside Examination- by External Examiners, as delegated by IARC and ISCCM

Accreditation of Fellowship:

1. Indian Association of Respiratory Care
2. Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine

Fellowship Board:

The following members of both the societies will act as the Board Members of FARC-ACC

The board will also act as the grievance cell.

Award of Fellowship:

Upon the successful completion of certification coursework and final exit exam, the candidate will be announced to have cleared the"Fellowship in Advanced Respiratory Care- Adult Critical Care (FARC-ACC)., in the presence of Board of Certification Program and representation from both the societies.

The Fellowship will be conferred to the candidate in the National Conference of ISCCM, in the presence of Board of Fellowship Program and representation from both the societies.

Mandatory Disclosures:

• The Fellowship in Advanced Respiratory Care- Adult Critical Care (FARC-ACC) is a Clinical Fellowship Program and is not a replacement for/ equivalent to Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy Programs, offered by UGC approved Indian Universities/ Foreign Universities
• The Fellowship is not awarded by any University.
• The Fellowship only aims to enhance the Academic and Clinical skills of Graduate Respiratory Therapists, to deliver high quality patient care in the ICUs.

Use of Credential:

• Only those candidates who have passed the Fellowship exit examinations are authorized to use the credential acronym (FARC-ACC)
• The FARC-ACC credential is intended to be used exclusively by the respiratory therapists as a designation to reflect his/her professional's knowledge and experience. An individual who possesses a current FARC-ACC certification may use the credential.
• The FARC-ACC credential may be used in a context and with media consistent with demonstrating professional credentialing, including but not limited to: office signage, resumes, websites, business cards, presentations, introductions, and electronic signatures.
• Some of the uses of FARC-ACC credential are not permitted; For example, to endorse any product, service or company; or as a company, product or brand name. The certification credential, whether in name or logo form, is not to be altered or modified in any way; this includes, but is not limited to, any change in font or color, any distortion, any animation, any translation, or any combination with any other logo or graphic material

FARC– Curriculum Click Here