Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital has joined a select group of hospitals by earning recognition as a “Quality Respiratory Care” facility by the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Memorial Hermann Northeast achieved the recognition by meeting a stringent set of standards, including making credentialed respiratory therapists available to hospital patients 24 hours a day.

Only 15 percent of hospitals in the United States have earned this recognition. We are proud to be recognized as a Quality Respiratory Care facility,” said Suzanne Croft, director of the Cardiopulmonary Department. “It is a testament to the strength of our program and assures our patients that they will receive the highest standard of respiratory care.”

Respiratory therapists are specially-trained health care professionals who work under physician orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of life saving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.