Biography
Biography: Camille Lowman
Abstract
Drastic changes in medical practice and payment for services in the United States has prompted a close look at how Respiratory Care is being delivered and how best to move forward in the ever changing invironment. In fact, in some departments, routine care has been given over to nursing services while the Respiratory Therapist remains involved in the care of only the sickest patients. However, new laws being enacted have placed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as one of the diagnoses that will see hospitals “fined” for readmissions also known as “bounce backs”. While education of these patients will become extremely important in the care process, additionally, the involvment of the Respiratory Therapist at the bedside will continue to prove imperative in assuring that treatment progresses optimally while they are inpatients in the acute care facility. This will include Respiratory Care Departments “taking back” therapy that has been previously “given away” to other departments. Therapist Driven Protocols, having been introduced in the late 1990’s in the United States, empower the Respiratory Therapist to direct therapy based upon the patient’s need after the physician writes an order for “Respiratory Care to assess and treat”. The therapist then follows an algorrhythm that guides in choosing the proper therapy (through protocols established by department medical directors), frequency and medications based upon severity of patient illness and symptoms. Studies have shown that patients respond more quickly to treatment when a therapist is directly involved in guiding the care. Therapist involvment at all levels of care is essential to creating positive outcomes for these patients.