Respiratory care
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For centuries, hospitals have served as the cornerstone of the United States healthcare system. Just like the majority of the general population, the respiratory care profession was born inside the hospital walls, just over 6 decades ago. While the knowledge, skills, and attributes of the respiratory therapist are critically necessary in acute care settings, the profession must move itself to a stronger position across the entire continuum of care of patients with acute and chronic cardiopulmonary diseases within the next several years to stay ahead of the curve of healthcare reform. In this paper, based on the 28th annual Philip Kittredge Memorial Lecture, I will examine the necessary strategies and values that the profession of respiratory care will need to successfully embrace to "think outside the box" and move the profession beyond the hospital walls for patient- and outcomes-focused, sustainable impact in the future healthcare delivery system.
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Editorial Comment
What's to be learned from 10 patients in one pediatric ICU?
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Volume rather than flow incentive spirometry is effective in improving chest wall expansion and abdominal displacement using optoelectronic plethysmography.
Incentive spirometers are widely used in clinical practice and classified as flow-oriented (FIS) and volume-oriented (VIS). Until recently the respiratory inductive plethysmography used to evaluate the effects of incentive spirometry on chest wall mechanics presented limitations, which may explain why the impact of VIS and FIS remains poorly known. ⋯ VIS promotes a greater increase in chest wall volume, with a larger abdominal contribution and lower respiratory muscle activity, than does FIS in healthy adults.