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Respiratory Care
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The
Respiratory Care Department at Missouri Delta Medical Center is
organized and designed to provide a comprehensive program of respiratory
care service to both inpatients and outpatients with known or suspected
pulmonary disease or dysfunction.
Respiratory
Care is an allied health specialty employed in the treatment, management,
control and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities
associated with respiration. These functions are accomplished by
therapeutic administration of oxygen, rehabilitation techniques,
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintenance of natural and artificial
airways. Specific tests are performed to assist the physician to
diagnose and facilitate the monitoring and treatment of patients.
These tests include the measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressures
and flows, and the analysis of blood and respiratory gases.
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Respiratory
Therapists
Respiratory therapists are
an integral part of a hospital's health care team. Respiratory therapists
work with physicians and nursing personnel in maintaining physiological
homeostasis in the patient. The role of the respiratory therapist
is to administer and assess the effectiveness of prescribed treatment,
to evaluate the effects of treatment on other body systems, to evaluate
the effects of non-pulmonary abnormalities on cardiopulmonary function
and to relay this information to other members of the health care
team. The respiratory therapist is equipped to serve as a consultant
to the physician in the treatment and management of cardiopulmonary
abnormalities, and works with nurses and other allied health team
members in coordinating and implementing an overall patient care strategy.
The education of the respiratory therapists, therefore, must provide
a broad background in the biological, physical and behavioral sciences. |
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Missouri
Delta Medical Center has 19 respiratory therapists on staff with
over 183 combined years of experience: eight Registered Therapists,
11 Certified Therapists, one Registered Pulmonary Function Technician,
and two Registered Polysomnography Technicians.
Scope
of Services
All services provided by
the Respiratory Care Department are provided by Respiratory Care
Practitioners credentialed by the State of Missouri. The scope of
care provided by the Respiratory Care Department at Missouri Delta
is quite comprehensive, including both therapeutic and diagnostic
services to both inpatients and outpatients.
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Services to Inpatients
| Therapeutic
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Diagnostic
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Aerosol Therapy |
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Arterial Puncture |
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Chest PhysioTherapy |
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Blood Gas Analysis |
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Bronchodilator Therapy |
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Capnography |
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Oxygen Therapy |
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Pulse Oximetry |
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Suctioning |
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Peak Flow |
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Tube Care
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Patient Assessment |
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Continuous Ventilatory Care |
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Spontaneous Parameters |
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure |
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Metabolic Testing |
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Emergency Resuscitation Code Team |
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Baseline Pulmonary Function Testing |
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Patient Education |
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Complete Pulmonary Function Testing |
Services
to Outpatients
| Therapeutic
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Diagnostic |
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Aerosol Therapy |
·
Polysomnography |
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Patient Education |
·
Blood Gas Analysis |
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·
Pulse Oximetry |
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Metabolic Testing |
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Baseline Pulmnonary Function Testing |
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Complete Pulmonary Function Testing |
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Cardiopulmonary
Diagnostics
Any testing which evaluates the performance
of the lungs or heart. This includes:
Pulse Oximetry (SpO2) — The non-invasive
method of determining the approximate oxygen saturation of hemoglobin.
Arterial Blood Gas Analysis (ABG)
· ph, PCO2, PO2 —
The amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ph level of arterial blood
to assess the quality of respiration.
· Carboxyhemoglobin
— A blood test to determine carbon monoxide poisoning.
Pulmonary Function Testing
· Simple Spirometry
— Used to evaluate the volume and flow of air from a patient's
lungs. This helps define restrictive and obstructive lung diseases
(ie. asthma, emphysema, etc. ).
· Diffusion Capacity
— Used to measure the ability of gas molecules to reach the
red blood cells, which is essential for respiration.
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