In My Opinion

Old Habits Die Hard

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Old Habits Die Hard I'm a creature of routine. I love routine. I love the predictability of doing the same thing over and over, of knowing what's around the next corner. I start planning things in January that won't be done until July so I can plan everything...(read more)

Health Care Reform

Jimmy Thacker — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:00 GMT

Well, the first hurdle for the health care reform bill has been jumped. Now, it's more debate, more revisions and more scrutiny. Whether you are for or against the bill, I think you'll agree with me that it's time to do something. The American health...(read more)

Honor Our Vets

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Every veteran is a hero. Whether it is the vet who signed up for the college money or the careerist, each veteran has done his or her part to assure us of the freedoms we so proudly display. Even those freedoms many do not agree with are kept safe by...(read more)

I Hope You Enjoyed Respiratory Care Week

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:52:00 GMT

Respiratory therapists are some of the brightest, talented, selfless and caring people I know. They work long hours, receive less pay than others with our workload and education, and are grossly underappreciated. Although we are needed for so many things,...(read more)

Reaching Out To Youth Smokers

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:17:00 GMT

Yesterday, I was privileged to speak at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo. The county health department asked me to give my perspective on smoking because I am a former smoker, a veteran and a respiratory therapist. The kids were attentive,...(read more)

Driving with Mirrors

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Good drivers know how to use their mirrors. They use them to back up.They check them frequently for other cars and pedestrians in their blind spots and the look at them often to see what's going on around them. Respiratory therapy should do the same thing....(read more)

COPD Educator Course Was Great

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Last weekend, I was in Denver attending the COPD Educator Course sponsored by the AARC and the COPD Foundation of Colorado. The conference was excellent! If you've never been to one, you should go the next time it's offered. The speakers were great. The...(read more)

Making Successful Changes in the Workplace

Jimmy Thacker — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:59:00 GMT

Every once in a while, we all need some change. Individuals do, departments do and hospitals do. Everything changes. We get older, time passes more quickly and the things we used to love eventually go away, giving way to something new and more modern....(read more)

Time to Celebrate Happy Fall Days

Jimmy Thacker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:19:00 GMT

Well, fall is finally here, even though Missouri hasn't had much of a summer this year. I believe we had only one day over 100 degrees, and it's been wetter than I remember it used to be. The fall colors promise to come out early this year and are expected...(read more)

Showing Respect

Jimmy Thacker — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:41:00 GMT

This morning on the way to work, an ambulance went by. People, including me, pulled off to the side of the road and allowed it to rush by without any delay. A few days back, a funeral procession went by the house while I was getting mail. People pulled...(read more)

Technology Pays Handsome Dividends for Savvy RTs

Jimmy Thacker — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:11:00 GMT

Isn't technology great? When it works the way it's supposed to, it can be awesome! Unfortunately, it seems like I am always the guy in line at the store when the computer breaks down and the cashier must actually use her brain to make change. That simple...(read more)

The Devil's Advocate

Jimmy Thacker — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:18:00 GMT

On Aug. 24, a jury ordered Phillip Morris USA to pay $13.8 million to Jodie Bullock, daughter of a deceased smoker who passed away from lung cancer which her family and their attorneys state came from smoking Benson & Hedges and Marlboros, both Phillip...(read more)

Walk Boosted Asthma Awareness

Jimmy Thacker — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:38:00 GMT

It's an exciting time for me. The " Walkin' for Wheezers " project I launched in May netted $1,580. People gave much more than expected, and I enjoyed some "celebrity status" for being the nut job doing the walking. As I have spoken to groups across the...(read more)

AAE Meeting: Where Are the RTs?

Jimmy Thacker — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:40:00 GMT

Hello, all. I have been gone for a while, attending the Association of Asthma Educators conference and taking a much-needed vacation, but now I'm back. One of the things I noticed was the lack of respiratory therapists at the meeting. Many of the attendees...(read more)

In Our Right Minds?

Jimmy Thacker — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:13:00 GMT

There's a saying "left-handed people are in their right minds." Being a lefty myself, I tend to agree. Here's why. Most people I know are right-handed. By this theory, they're not in their right minds. These are the people who put non-rebreather masks...(read more)