 Respiratory Care is a healthcare occupation composed of practitioners who, under the direction of a physician, are trained to actively participate in the care of patients, especially the monitoring and treatment of the cardiopulmonary system. Respiratory care practitioners work with patients of all ages in all areas of the hospital and are qualified to perform intensive, critical care and pediatric procedures. They serve a very important role in the hospital’s emergency lifesaving response team.
Respiratory care practitioners perform procedures that are both diagnostic and therapeutic. They see patients with chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, as well as patients who have had heart attacks, lung cancer and accident victims.
Services for Patients
For most people, breathing is second nature. But for those who suffer from breathing problems caused by injury or illnesses such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, each breath can be a major accomplishment.
Fleming County Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Department offers inpatient and outpatient services to diagnose and treat breathing disorders and to help you breathe easier. The department is staffed around the clock by registered and certified respiratory therapists and provides a broad range of services, including:
 Clinical Services
- Mechanical ventilation, including non-invasive and conventional;
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP);
- Bi-Level positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP);
- Airway management
- Delivery of aerosolized medications;
- Bronchopulmonary hygiene;
- Arterial blood gas sampling and analysis;
- Electrocardiogram (EKG);
- Holter Monitoring (24-48 hours);
- Oxygen therapy;
- Patient Education
- Smoking cessation education
Diagnostic Services
- Complete Pulmonary Function Testing;
- Electrocardiogram (EKG);
- Holter Monitoring (24-48 hrs.);
- Electroencephalogram (EEG);
- Arterial blood gas sampling and analysis;
The department’s arterial blood gas laboratory is certified by the American College of Pathology
- Cardiac Stress Testing
- Performed in conjunction with the Diagnostic Imaging Department
 Outpatient Testing
Outpatient testing is performed in the Cardiopulmonary department from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Testing includes cardiac stress testing, EKG, Holter monitoring, EEG, Pulmonary function testing, and Arterial blood gas sampling.
Fleming County Hospital Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition in National Program
The Cardiopulmonary Department at Fleming County Hospital has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals.
About 700 hospitals or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award. The Cardiopulmonary Department at FCH has received this recognition in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
The QRCR program was started by the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.
Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals who work under physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, and other lung-related conditions. They are key member of the lifesaving response team charged with handling medical emergencies.
The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 46,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.
For a list of QRCR hospitals see:
http://www.yourlunghealth.org/basic_information/quality_providers/index.cfm
For more information about the Cardiopulmonary Department, call (606) 849-5270. |  |
| Director |
| (606) 849-5270 |
| sbailey@flemingcountyhospital |
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