BMCC Respiratory Therapy Program Receives Award from CoARC

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Respiratory Therapy program has received the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award.

In selecting college programs for the recognition, the CoARC board used criteria based on key accreditation metrics documented in the 2019 Annual Report of Current Status RCS, according to CoARC.

BMCC Allied Health Services Chair Everett Flannery explained that in order to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), a graduate has to pass two very difficult examinations given by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

While the national pass rate for the RRT registration is around 55 percent, BMCC’s average pass rate has been 96 percent for the past three years, according to Flannery.

“We are the only accredited Respiratory Therapy program in the CUNY system,” said Flannery.  “We are one of just two programs in the United States that is classified as ‘Open Enrollment’ and whose students are overwhelmingly minority.”

The CoARC award is part of that organization’s continued efforts to value the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential as a standard of professional achievement. From a program effectiveness perspective, the CoARC views the RRT credential as a measure of a program’s success in inspiring its graduates to achieve their highest educational and professional aspirations.

“BMCC’s Respiratory Therapy program has dedicated and committed full-time and adjunct faculty, and excellent staff as well as incredible financial support from BMCC’s administration,” said Flannery. “The full-time faculty and staff average more than 30 years with the program. In addition, the program partners with many of the best hospitals in the metropolitan area to provide valuable clinical experiences for the students.

BMCC’s Respiratory Therapy programs in the age of COVID-19

As CUNY’s only accredited Respiratory Therapy program, the BMCC Respiratory Therapy Program provides students with the necessary skills and experience to become competent respiratory therapists. Students will receive specialized training in the clinical care of patients with cardio-respiratory problems.

Students who complete the program’s requirements receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and are eligible to take the Certification and Registry Examinations given by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.

On April 29, approval was granted with guidance provided by New York State Education Department (NYSED) for early graduation of 18 BMCC Respiratory Therapy students to help meet the needs of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Flannery explained that the pandemic had brought on a tremendous demand for respiratory therapists in the New York City metropolitan area and BMCC’s early graduates were able to fill the need.

“The BMCC faculty are confident that most if not all of the graduates will be offered positions in hospitals immediately upon graduation,” Flannery said at the time. “These are good paying jobs with secure futures and excellent benefits. Since most hospitals are on a three-day workweek, the graduates would then be afforded the opportunity to continue their education and obtain an advanced degree.”