Congratulations to all GSRC 2019 Spring Graduates!
Oral Corticosteroids in Asthma Care
Your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids (OCS) to treat moderate to severe asthma flares. These medications are designed to decrease 
airway inflammation and reduce mucus quickly, but they also come with a potential for serious side effects. Patient advocacy groups, professional medical societies and industry stakeholders are partnering to raise awareness of oral corticosteroids and develop strategies to curb reliance on them.
Oral Corticosteroid Stewardship Statement
It is time to protect patients with asthma from potential overexposure to oral corticosteroids (OCS) – and to recognize OCS overuse for what it often is: a treatment plan failure.
OCS carry serious health risks. Innovative treatment options target certain types of severe or difficult-to-control asthma in ways never-before possible, reducing the need for OCS. Today, OCS use has become a signal that a patient may need an updated treatment plan, or support with adherence concerns. While OCS can be an important tool in managing asthma in certain cases, use should always be carefully monitored by a qualified asthma specialist, or a primary care provider with asthma expertise. NOTE: OCS should not be confused with ICS (inhaled corticosteroids), which have fewer risks.
Find out more here.
There are changes coming in 2019 from the NBRC and credentialing maintenance.
More information about respiratory therapy licensure from the Georgia Composite Medical Board here
