Home Contact UPCRA
About UPCRA Members Board of Directors Resources, Continuing Education, Links Program Directory

History and Purpose

Home : About UPCRA : History and Purpose

History and Purpose of UPCRA

On December 10, 1988 a diverse group of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals met seeking knowledge, the need to share experiences, and the chance to promote and advance Cardiac And Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the state of South Dakota. Present at the organizational meeting of the Upper Plains Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Association were members representing all occupations active in rehab programs, as well as those in need of information to start or further their own program. Common goals were established, committees formed and officers elected. An organizational name and logo was adopted.

Committees established that day were the Membership Committee, the Program Committee, and the Issues Committee. Individuals interested in each committee met to establish their respective goals and objectives. Julie Fieldsend and Sheri Carmen collaborated to research and established a constitution and bylaws.

The officers elected that day consisted of the following individuals:

Julie Fieldsend, RN, President
Sheri Hustrulid (Carmen), RN Vice President
Scotty Roberts, MD, President Elect
Billie Hanson, RN Secretary
Linda Youngren, MS Treasurer

The goals of the Upper Plains Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association, adopted then and still appropriate today, bear repeating:

  • Enhance the exchange of information between cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs and provide a directory of programs and professionals in our region.
  • Provide professional education through conferences, scientific meetings and publications.
  • Establish standards of practice for programs in the Upper Plains Area.
  • Provide a unified voice regarding issues in rehabilitation to state legislature, insurance carriers and federal agencies.
  • Promote an understanding of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and to increase awareness of related healthcare services.
  • Encourage and provide information for the development of new cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs throughout the Upper Plains Region.

In the 15 years that followed, continued growth was experienced by the organization. Changes were made, committees enhanced, and further development of UPCRA was seen on many levels. Some of the highlights during that time were:

  • April 15, 1989, First Annual Educational Program featuring Ann Abbott, PhD, Scotty Roberts, MD, David Hylland, MD, Darcy Ellefson, RRT and June Schultz, RRT as speakers took place in Brookings, SD.
  • June 1989 Articles of Incorporation, and Affiliation with AACVPR, was accepted.
  • August 22, 1989, the first Issue of the UPCRA Newsletter was published.
  • The April 1992 conference combined the educational programs of the Iowa Association of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and UPCRA.
  • In April 1994, the first educational meeting of UPCRA, IACPR and NCVPRN, “Combining Forces for Future Growth” took place in Omaha, NE.
  • 1996 brought the establishment of the Scotty Roberts Award of Excellence as recognition by peers for exemplary service and contribution to UPCRA.
  • In 1996 the Outcomes Committee established a uniform tool to measure outcomes in each program and allow benchmarking across the region.
  • In 2001 the monumental effort of making our organization legal in the eyes of the US government, headed by Kathy Ritter, became a reality when we achieved our 501C3 status.

Recognizing that the professions involved in providing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation represent multidisciplinary fields, the Upper Plains Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association is dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, the enhancement of communications between professionals, the promotion of scientific inquiry, and the advancement of education for the benefit of healthcare professionals and the public.