The Respiratory Care Department at Star Valley Medical Center has earned the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition Award.

The honor came from the American Association of Respiratory Care. Tanya Merritt, Star Valley Medical Center spokesman, pointed out that 700 hospitals or only 15 percent of the hospitals in the United States qualified for and received the award.

To receive the honor a hospital must show that all respiratory therapists in a department are licensed, credentialed and receive continuing education, are available 24 hours a day, and the department must have a medical director assigned to respiratory services.

The Respiratory Therapy Department at Star Valley Medical Center includes Director Michael Ford, along with respiratory therapists Mike Hepworth and Colette Jensen.