Respiratory Therapy evolved as a profession through advances in life support technology. Respiratory Therapy was once a very technical discipline, using wrenches and gauges, those working in the profession now have become therapists, trading their wrench for a stethoscope. Continuing to work through technology, they keep patients alive by physically supporting breathing, opening the airway and ensuring respirations.
The role of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) has grown through the years. You will find RRTs in the Operating Room, the Emergency Room, the Intensive Care Unit, the nursery and on the medical/surgical floors. They perform diagnostic testing on the heart and lungs, and teach patients how to understand and manage their chronic lung disease. Their patients range from very young to the elderly.
Like other regulated healthcare professionals in Ontario, RRTs are accountable to the public through their professional college, a group numbering approximately 2,300 in the province. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, there are 18 RRTs proudly practicing their profession at both campuses.
Happy Registered Respiratory Therapist Week!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Improving Computer Based Education
Six Months ago, the doors opened on Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) newly furnished computer lab. Construction of the computer lab was to an area of redesigned office space attached to the Library, on the lower level of CKHA’s Chatham Campus. The computer lab initially housed 6 computers, a computer for the instructor, and a ceiling mount projector. Six additional laptops were later purchased in June. Now a dozen people can enjoy the benefits of computer-based learning in a comfortable, naturally lit environment.
The Professional Practice Team now has the ability to teach computer-based education in a “hands on training” environment. HOBIC (a computer documentation tool for nurses) education was completely through hands on training using the computer lab. We educated 224 nurses in the computer lab throughout the months of June and July. Laptops also allow us the ability to travel to other locations, and we were able to deliver HOBIC education at our Sydenham campus.
Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Ward Clerks also receive clinical orientation to documentation and order entry in the computer lab. This full day of practical experience in the lab, provides an open forum for questions and answers during this hands on experience.
Computer-based education is the future as technology and learning need continues to evolve.
The Professional Practice Team now has the ability to teach computer-based education in a “hands on training” environment. HOBIC (a computer documentation tool for nurses) education was completely through hands on training using the computer lab. We educated 224 nurses in the computer lab throughout the months of June and July. Laptops also allow us the ability to travel to other locations, and we were able to deliver HOBIC education at our Sydenham campus.
Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Ward Clerks also receive clinical orientation to documentation and order entry in the computer lab. This full day of practical experience in the lab, provides an open forum for questions and answers during this hands on experience.
Computer-based education is the future as technology and learning need continues to evolve.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Advancing Diabetes Care by Partnering with Patients
For several years, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has annually supported a team of allied health professionals to participate in the Dorothy Wylie Nursing Institute/Health Leaders Institute (DWNLI/HLI). The Leadership Institute offers a two-part, concentrated program of study on leadership principles, models, behaviours, skills, and tools to assist participants with the necessary knowledge and training to work effectively on inter-professional teams.
This year, the Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) was chosen to participate. Following CKHA’s strategic direction of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC), their project’s goal is to ensure a well coordinated, inter-professional care approach to educate, engage, and to empower staff and the patient/family in their plan of care. Their project focus is on diabetic patients being admitted to all Medicine, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Units.
They are currently half way through their project. The Dorothy Wylie experience has had a positive influence in engaging their department in leadership and team building strategies and active collaboration around client-centred care. This opportunity has supported them by giving them access to evidence-based models and frameworks and the guidance to apply these practices in a clinical setting.
They look forward to sharing their success at our completion in November. They will continue to ‘model the way’, partner and ‘share the PFCC vision’ with all staff and committees to improve the patient experience at CKHA. If you are inspired and would like to ‘challenge a process’, I ‘encourage’ you to participate in the Dorothy Wylie Nursing /Health Leaders Institute experience.
This year, the Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) was chosen to participate. Following CKHA’s strategic direction of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC), their project’s goal is to ensure a well coordinated, inter-professional care approach to educate, engage, and to empower staff and the patient/family in their plan of care. Their project focus is on diabetic patients being admitted to all Medicine, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Units.
They are currently half way through their project. The Dorothy Wylie experience has had a positive influence in engaging their department in leadership and team building strategies and active collaboration around client-centred care. This opportunity has supported them by giving them access to evidence-based models and frameworks and the guidance to apply these practices in a clinical setting.
They look forward to sharing their success at our completion in November. They will continue to ‘model the way’, partner and ‘share the PFCC vision’ with all staff and committees to improve the patient experience at CKHA. If you are inspired and would like to ‘challenge a process’, I ‘encourage’ you to participate in the Dorothy Wylie Nursing /Health Leaders Institute experience.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Celebrating Interprofessional Care: October is Occupational Therapy Month
When everyday activities are interrupted by illness, injury, developmental challenges, the aging process, mental or emotional illness, a member of the occupational therapy treatment team can provide strategies to help a person work toward a more independent and productive lifestyle.
Occupational Therapists work with individuals of all ages, in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, treatment centres, clinics, industrial settings and in private practice, to name a few.
At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) helps individuals deal with challenges in self-care, cognition, visual-perception, positioning, wheelchair seating, transfers, meal planning and preparation, driving, social skills, anxiety and stress management, and many other issues one might face at home, at school, at work or in the community.
One of the assessment and treatment tools the OT team may use to help prepare a person for adjustment to the home and/or community is the Activities of Daily Living apartment, located on the inpatient rehab unit. This apartment, which includes a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, is a setting where occupational therapy patients from both the physical health and mental health areas of the hospital can have a chance to practice their daily skills, such as a tub transfer or meal preparation. Under the guidance of an OT or OTA, patients can try adaptive equipment, and explore new ways to make the tasks easier. An assessment is often used to ensure that someone will be safe in their own environment, before they leave the hospital.
In a society where aging, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries can impact severely on a person’s lifestyle, a chance to re-establish the most basic skills become important to a person’s sense of mastery of their environment and safe re-integration into their community. Working with an Occupational Therapist or OT assistant can provide that opportunity to strive for independence in life’s daily routine.
Happy Occupational Therapy Month!
Occupational Therapists work with individuals of all ages, in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, treatment centres, clinics, industrial settings and in private practice, to name a few.
At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) helps individuals deal with challenges in self-care, cognition, visual-perception, positioning, wheelchair seating, transfers, meal planning and preparation, driving, social skills, anxiety and stress management, and many other issues one might face at home, at school, at work or in the community.
One of the assessment and treatment tools the OT team may use to help prepare a person for adjustment to the home and/or community is the Activities of Daily Living apartment, located on the inpatient rehab unit. This apartment, which includes a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, is a setting where occupational therapy patients from both the physical health and mental health areas of the hospital can have a chance to practice their daily skills, such as a tub transfer or meal preparation. Under the guidance of an OT or OTA, patients can try adaptive equipment, and explore new ways to make the tasks easier. An assessment is often used to ensure that someone will be safe in their own environment, before they leave the hospital.
In a society where aging, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries can impact severely on a person’s lifestyle, a chance to re-establish the most basic skills become important to a person’s sense of mastery of their environment and safe re-integration into their community. Working with an Occupational Therapist or OT assistant can provide that opportunity to strive for independence in life’s daily routine.
Happy Occupational Therapy Month!
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