Webcast Central

This presentation will provide an overview of home sleep apnea testing to include associated clinical challenges, practical applications, and its role in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea.

In this presentation, common causes for readmission will be identified and the impact of readmission on patient mortality and hospital costs will be explored. Objective determination of readiness for ICU discharge is an evolving area of interest that may impact this problem. Dr. Durbin will discuss a novel data collection and scoring form developed by the AARC to be used at ICU discharge to identify patients at risk for readmission. Strategies directed at this high-risk group should reduce the readmission rate and improve survival.

Ventilator generated graphics provides the clinician with a valuable monitoring and diagnostic tool to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. This presentation will provide information to strengthen graphics analysis and interpretation skills.

This presentation will review a how the respiratory therapist can influence the test quality of a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) using the path of workflow QA model.

This presentation will provide a review of operations and CMS admission criteria for LTACHs, review the discharge process, and describe the role of the RT in facilitating a smooth transition for the patient from the STACH to the LTACH and the LTACH to the next level of care. Challenges for LTACHs, including financial penalties for discharge/admission between LTACHs and STACHs will be discussed.

Now, more than any other time in the history of homecare, the role and value of the home respiratory therapist is being questioned The home medical equipment and health care business is changing at a rapid pace. National competitive bidding, new health care policies, audit pressures and continued reimbursement pressures have placed significant strain on many providers. This presentation examines the potential future role of the home RT.

Mechanical ventilation requirements in the critical care transport arena have progressed significantly. Patient-ventilator interactions, ventilator induced lung injury and lung protective approaches are now commonly encountered by transport teams. Technological advances are now allowing highly skilled respiratory therapists to bring the ICU to the bedside in transport, maintaining a high level of specialized critical care.

This presentation is designed to bring you up-to-date on some of the most important aspects of the new Medicare programs linked to quality, discuss how providers will be impacted by the changes, and examine the role respiratory therapists can play in patient care.