Best Practices

Being on the front lines as essential healthcare professionals during the pandemic has highlighted the valuable role respiratory therapists bring to the healthcare system. As Tom Kallstrom details in this Q&A, the American Association for Respiratory Care is leading the way to increase their visibility.

Chantel Taylor has a deeply personal survival story to share with patients and the community college students she teaches. She also imparts the most important lesson the pandemic has taught her: ‘Get in there and learn and help take care of these patients. Get in there and make a difference.’

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook projects a 19 percent increase in the number of respiratory therapists in the U.S. by 2029. The COVID-19 pandemic is helping spread awareness and attract new talent to the profession.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory therapists have become frontline heroes, casting a well-deserved spotlight on an often-overlooked profession. We answer these six frequently asked questions in honor of Respiratory Care Week, from Oct. 25-31.

COPD navigators serve as patient advocates, overseeing care and providing education on managing the condition. Their work improves the quality of life for patients with COPD and reduces hospital readmissions.

The Cleveland Clinic established the system to prioritize the urgency of bronchoscopy procedures as the novel coronavirus raged. When elective bronchoscopies were resumed, protocols were established to reduce aerosolization and potential virus transmission risks.

Bronchoscopy remains an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in critically ill patients, but careful preparation and precautions are necessary considering the number of healthcare workers who've been sickened by the novel coronavirus. Dr. Angela Argento and Dr. Elizabeth Malsin discuss what they've learned performing bronchoscopies during the pandemic.

'In such a kinetic milieu, these can be expected to evolve based on an expanding evidence base, the public health burden of disease, and the availability of trained personnel or medical infrastructure,' the authors of the guidelines write.

The consensus guidelines, compiled by 30 experts and published in The Lancet, cover patient selection, timing, performance, and optimal management after tracheostomy. The novel coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Creating a surgical tent using disposable drapes is a relatively simple technique to protect operating room personnel, according to the authors of a new research paper on ways to improve safety for healthcare staffers treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.