You want to attend a credible college that stands out from the rest and gives you the best chance at securing a career after graduation. At COD, you'll discover:

• Small class sizes that ensure students receive personalized attention.
• Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
• Affordable programs to help students achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining a savings account.
• Instruction utilizing top-notch facilities and equipment in the Health and Science Center (HSC).

Respiratory Care, A.A.S.

The Respiratory Care program prepares eligible students to provide management of respiratory care to patients seen in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, and diagnostic laboratories. Instructors educate students in diagnostic, therapeutic, and technologic arts as applied to the adult, neonatal, and pediatric patient. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the following certification exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Students who earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential may apply for a Respiratory Care Practitioner license in the State of Illinois. This degree requires a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.

 

College of DuPage, CoARC program number 200388, A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy, Glen Ellyn, IL is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
USA
(815) 283-2835
www.coarc.com 

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:

• 3-year time period being reported
• RRT credentialing success
• Achievement of the high cut score on the TMC Exam (beginning 2018)
• Retention (Attrition)
• Job Placement
• Overall Graduate Satisfaction
• Overall Employer Satisfaction
• Total number of program enrollees
• Total number of program graduates
• Maximum Annual Enrollment

CoARC provides student/graduate and program outcomes for all CoARC accredited programs.

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

Students are expected to provide proof of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan prior to the start of the program or clinical start. The insurance plan must cover you throughout the length of your clinical experience, which in most cases, consists of the entire length of the program. If you are in need of Health Insurance, please note the following important dates and visit cod.studentbenefitplans.com.

Important Dates

• Open Enrollment: Typically opens November through mid-January
  If you will need health insurance ANYTIME within the next year, you must apply during the current open enrollment period.

If you miss open enrollment, but have a qualifying life event, you can still apply during a Special Enrollment Period.

While we cannot guarantee your official acceptance into the program, you need to be aware that there is short timeframe of when you are able to purchase a Health Insurance plan. The purpose of this step is to make you aware and that the time to research and purchase is NOW. Purchasing health insurance outside of this timeframe will take months and may prohibit your admittance into the Program. NOTE: Obtaining Health Insurance is NOT an application requirement but it is a requirement to be in the program.

Students are required to have access to reliable transportation in order to attend clinical training at geographically diverse clinical sites. Current clinical sites include:

• Bolingbrook Hospital — Bolingbrook
• Christ Medical Center — Oak Lawn
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Chicago
• Lurie Children's Hospital — Chicago
• Advocate Children's Hospital — Oak Lawn
• St. Joseph Hospital — Joliet
• Delnor Community Hospital — Geneva
• Alexian Brothers Hospital — Elk Grove Village
• Mercy Medical Center — Aurora
• Edward Hospital — Naperville
• Kishwaukee Medical Center — DeKalb
• South Suburban Hospital — Hazel Crest
• Good Samaritan Hospital — Downers Grove
• La Grange Memorial Hospital — La Grange
• Rush-Copley Memorial Hospital — Aurora
• Gottlieb Memorial Hospital — Melrose Park
• Loyola University Medical Center — Maywood
• Hinsdale Hospital — Hinsdale
• Lutheran General Hospital — Park Ridge
• University of Chicago Medical Center — Chicago
• Central DuPage Hospital — Winfield
• Elmhurst Hospital — Elmhurst
• St. Alexius Medical Center — Hoffman Estates
• Duly Medical Group — Naperville
• Condell Hospital — Libertyville
• Northwest Community Hospital — Arlington Heights
• Northwestern McHenry Hospital — McHenry

Incoming health science students have certain requirements that must be met throughout the program. Refer to the resources below for more information.

• Clinical Requirements Packet - Learn more about health requirements you may need to complete prior to registration or after program admission.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Requirements - While the College may not require an SSN for admission to all healthcare programs, students should be aware that the absence of an SSN may limit or prevent their ability to participate in certain clinical experiences, obtain required licensure or certification or secure employment upon graduation. Many healthcare employers, clinical education sites, licensing agencies and credentialing organizations require a valid SSN for employment, criminal background checks, payroll processing and/or professional licensure or certification. Students are strongly encouraged to verify SSN requirements with the applicable licensing board, certifying agency and prospective employers before enrolling in a healthcare program.

Mobility Requirements

1. Ability to move between multiple locations in a building and rapidly transition between rooms or floors
2. Effectively navigate tight spaces, swiftly adjust placement relative to others in the room, and quickly change body position relative to the required task
3. Lift, carry, push, and/or pull job related equipment, which can be in excess of 150lbs
4. Engage in repetitive and extended use of hands, strong manual dexterity, and proficient fine motor skills
5. Demonstrate capacity to engage in continuous patient interactions for extended periods without taking breaks
6. Safely and accurately perform CPR
7. Travel to and from program required locations

Sensory Capability

1. Coordinate verbal and manual instruction
2. Auditory ability sufficient to hear verbal communication from clients and members of the health team; includes ability to respond to emergency signals

Communication Ability

1.  Communicate effectively in English with patients, families, and other health care providers, both verbally and in writing
2. Effectively adapt communication for an intended audience
3. Interact; establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds
4. Sufficient command of the English language to read and retrieve information from patient charts 

The following Student Learning Outcomes are in alignment with CoARC TMC detailed content outline.

Respiratory Care program graduates will:

• Evaluate data in the patient record
• Gather clinical information through patient assessment
• Perform procedures to gather clinical information
• Evaluate procedure results
• Recommend diagnostic procedures
• Assemble and troubleshoot equipment
• Ensure infection control
• Perform quality control procedures
• Initiation and modification of interventions to maintain a patent airway
• Initiation and modification of interventions to perform airway clearance and lung expansion techniques
• Initiation and modification of interventions to support oxygenation and ventilation
• Initiation and modification administer medications and specialty gases
• Ensure modifications are made to the respiratory care plan to improve patient outcomes
• Use evidence-based medicine principles
• Provide respiratory care techniques in high-risk situations
• Assist a physician/provider in performing procedures
• Initiate and conduct patient and family education

College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.

For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.

Articulation Agreements

College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or Advising Services to stay on track.

• Concordia University Chicago, AAS Respiratory Care to BA in Healthcare Management
• Northern Illinois University, AAS Respiratory Care to BS in Health Sciences

Transfer Guides

Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.

Check with your local community college. You may be eligible for a tuition charge-back. This allows you to enroll in the program for in-district tuition. If you work full-time in DuPage County, you may also be eligible for a charge-back.

Financial aid is available. Visit the Financial Aid office at the College for more information. There are scholarships available through several professional groups. Students must submit applications for these scholarships and in some cases, write an essay.

It will take two years to complete the Respiratory Care program. All courses are taught in sequence and are prerequisites for the subsequent courses.

The program does not guarantee employment: however, the market has much opportunity for full time, part time and per diem positions. Many of our students are offered positions through experiences from their clinical rotations.

Yes, the Respiratory Care program currently has two articulation agreements that help students earn a bachelor's degree:

• One agreement is a 3+1 through Concordia University for a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration.
• The second agreement is a 2+2 through Northern Illinois University to earn a Bachelors of Science degree. In addition, other schools may accept general education credits earned at COD.