Fremont, Calif. – Washington Hospital is home to an award winning respiratory therapist
(RT), Margaret Chaika, certified respiratory therapist and certified pulmonary
function technologist, who singled out from 100,000 practicing RT’s,
and the only one in California, was honored as the American Association
for Respiratory Care's (AARC) 2008 Continuing Care and Rehabilitation
Section Specialty Practitioner of the Year. She is part of an exclusive
group of nine therapists honored nationwide and was honored locally at
a recent meeting of the Washington Township Health Care District Board
of Directors.
“Receiving a prestigious award from colleagues in the field of pulmonary
rehabilitation is a great honor,” says Chaika, who has been a respiratory
therapist for more than 35 years. “I’ve always been passionate
about helping patients and giving back to the community. That’s
what Washington Hospital stands for.”
The award, which was presented at the AARC's 54th International Respiratory
Congress in Anaheim, is bestowed annually on a section member who best
exemplifies qualities and characteristics of excellence in providing respiratory
care services to patients in need of pulmonary rehabilitation and asthma
education.
“During the past 35 years, Margaret has dedicated her life and professional
care to treating patients and she has earned the respect of physicians
and admiration from her peers. Margaret simply loves pulmonary rehabilitation,
and it shows,” says Kent Joraanstad, chief of rehabilitation and
education services at Washington Hospital. “In her coordinator role,
Margaret has expanded and improved the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation
for both professionals and patients,”
As pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator at Washington Hospital, Chaika
helps patients on a one on one basis with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and other lung conditions regain lost functioning. In fact, Washington
Hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation program is one of the few programs
in the Bay Area that individually tailors the program to meet the specific
needs of each patient.
Over the years, Chaika has directed the Hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation
program and pulmonary function laboratory. Chaika is actively involved
in Washington Hospital’s Respiratory Care Process Improvement Team
and she donates her time as a speaker for Washington Hospital’s
Community Education Program.
The American Association for Respiratory Care is a professional membership
organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory therapy
education and research.
Among its goals are to advocate on behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate
access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals and
to benefit respiratory health care providers.
In addition to the Continuing Care and Rehabilitation Section, the AARC
supports Specialty Sections for respiratory therapists working in Adult
Acute Care, Diagnostics, Education, Home Care, Management, Neonatal-Pediatrics,
Subacute Care, and Transport. Together, these nine Specialty Sections
provide respiratory therapists focusing on specific patient populations
and health care settings with the targeted information and services they
need to provide the highest quality of respiratory care.
Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 359-bed acute-care hospital;
the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center;
Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center;
Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization
Laboratory; Washington Center for Joint Replacement; the Institute for
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex
which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center
and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.