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Ventilator Weaning Frequently Asked Questions
What is one of the most successful programs at Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
Tell me more about your Ventilator Weaning Program.
How many Respiratory Therapists do you have on staff?
What kind of outcomes do you have?
Do you take patients who have been weaned off the ventilator but still have tracheostomies?
What are the requirements for a ventilator patient to be admitted to Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
Can Sparrow Specialty Hospital accept patients with any kind of tracheostomy?
What is different about ventilator weaning at Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
How are patients on ventilators physically able to get out of bed and be active?
What about patients who are also receiving hemodialysis?
What is one of the most successful programs at Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
Sparrow Specialty Hospital is fast becoming home to the premier Ventilator Weaning Program in Michigan. We are in our third
year of providing comprehensive respiratory care, which is designed to liberate patients from ventilator and tracheostomy dependency.
Tell me more about your Ventilator Weaning Program.
Our Program is a Respiratory Therapist driven/Physician directed protocol, that allows each patient the opportunity to progress as quickly as they are able.
For example, at each shift change, Associates from the Respiratory Team conduct a "round table" assessment on every patient in the Program.
This allows for timely recommendations for problem solving and individualizing therapy to facilitate recovery.
How many Respiratory Therapists do you have on staff?
The Respiratory Staff is currently made up of nine full time Associates who have 181 years of combined Respiratory experience.
We are fortunate to also have the services of eight additional Therapists on an "as available" basis.
What kind of outcomes do you have?
We are proud of our Respiratory/Ventilator Weaning Program. Our outcomes for weaning patients off the ventilator are approaching the
national average for vent weaning in the LTACH setting. It is one of our goals to surpass this average.
Do you take patients who have been weaned off the ventilator but still have tracheostomies?
Yes,
InterQual criteria allow us to admit patients whose primary need is decannulation. We have been equally successful in
getting these patients back to eating in the normal fashion; and with the help of our dedicated Speech Pathologists, back to speaking normally.
We hope you will consider Sparrow Specialty Hospital for your Respiratory Patients.
What are the requirements for a ventilator patient to be admitted to Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
A patient who has failed weaning attempts at least once, at the "short term" care hospital would trigger a more intensive
evaluation by a Sparrow Specialty Hospital Intake Case Manager. A patient who appears to need more time to wean off the ventilator
would also warrant a second look. Per Interqual Admission Criteria for LTACH's, the patient must have a tracheostomy prior to admission.
Can Sparrow Specialty Hospital accept patients with any kind of tracheostomy?
Yes. In order to be ventilated, the tracheostomy must be cuffed. Ideally, the patient will be transported with the second, back-up
tracheostomy that was in his/her room. Otherwise, we may need a little extra time to order the second, back-up tracheostomy, especially if the tracheostomy is an unusual style of size.
What is different about ventilator weaning at Sparrow Specialty Hospital?
Ventilator
weaning at Sparrow Specialty Hospital is individually tailored to the needs of each patient. Accordingly, the pace is more gentle. The
process of weaning is much more relaxed, often allowing a patient to adjust to a ventilator change for 2 or 3 days
before another weaning adjustment is made. Our Rehabilitation Team works with our patients so that they are out of bed for activities while weaning.
A multi-disciplinary team works together on the weaning process, meeting daily to discuss each patient's progress, and to
refine the treatment plan. The dietician is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, as well as Respiratory Therapy,
Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, the attending physician and the consulting Pulmonologist. We never
give up on weaning!
How are patients on ventilators physically able to get out of bed and be active?
Our ventilators are smaller, portable, and on wheels. They are designed for mobility during the weaning process.
What about patients who are also receiving hemodialysis?
Ventilator weaning is definitely complicated by renal disease. Statistically, patients with renal disease have the highest level
of difficulty in weaning from the ventilator. Our hemodialysis nurses, along with Rafael Javier, MD, or hemodialysis Medical Director, closely monitor the patients' renal status, and confer with Respirator Therapy and
the consulting Pulmonologist to best meet the needs of each individual patient.
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