The Respiratory Care Department is committed to achieving the most optimal outcome for all patients. Under supervision and in consultation with the hospital’s Medical Director, Respiratory Therapists (RT’s) utilize therapist-driven protocols in the therapeutic treatment, ventilator care, and weaning of patients. RT’s are on staff twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, providing comprehensive family/patient -centered care. RT’s work closely with physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and all other disciplines to provide each individual patient with the tools needed to minimize the patient’s respiratory symptoms and improve their quality of life. RT’s are dedicated to teaching family members all aspects of respiratory care related to their loved one.
Several of our ventilator patients are in the process of weaning off the ventilator. Some of our patients, who were once deemed unweanable, are currently off the ventilator during the day and require ventilatory support only at night. Other patients have tolerated ventilator discontinuance. Each patient’s tolerance and ability to ventilator weaning is completely unique. Our belief that a mechanically ventilated patient whose disease process has begun to stabilize and/or reverse is when, the weaning of the ventilator becomes a consideration.
- Aerosol Therapy
- Oxygen Therapy
- Oximetry
- EKG
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Ventilator Weaning
- Tracheotomy Care
- Trach Tube Changes
- Passy Muir Valve
- Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
- Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
- Capnography
- Airway Management
- Bronchopulmonary Hygiene
- Patient-Family Education/Training
In addition to providing clinical care, the RT’s also attend off site activities with our trach/ventilator patients, as requested by our Activities and Case Management Departments. Activities include: attending movies, summer day camp , going to the pumpkin patch, shopping at the mall, picture taking during the holidays, and going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (everyone’s most memorable trip).
