FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine articles from June 2004

FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine archives from June 2004

Notes from the dungeon.
June 22, 2004... Welcome to the Summer issue of FOCUS. This issue has a number of articles on a myriad of topics. Starting us off, is a thought-provoking piece by Sandy McCleaster RRT on the subject of whether therapists need to aspire to the RRT credential...

The RRT--an endangered species?(registered respiratory therapist)
June 22, 2004... Here's a rather curious fact. Respiratory care practitioners have all but stopped taking the exams that could earn them the title Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). It seems that once they earn the CRT credential, modern day practitioners...

Get your poor performers back on track.(MANAGEMENT)
June 22, 2004... Got a task for Joe? He has a message for you: "It's not my job." You probably have an employee just like Joe: He doesn't outright refuse your orders, but kind of shunts them to the back of his mental shelf and forgets about them. The result,...

Pleural effusion--a review.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL KEEPER #9)
June 22, 2004... A pleural effusion is defined as the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space. It is not a disease entity unto itself. In fact, the presence of a pleural effusion signifies the existence of some underlying process. Because the...

Congestive heart failure and CPAP.(SLLEP MEDICINE)
June 22, 2004... Heart failure occurs when the ventricles pump out diminished amounts of blood. Ventricular action can be hindered: 1) if an excessive amount of blood is allowed to enter the ventricles (i.e., volume overload); 2) if heart tissue is damaged by...

A study to evaluate the competency of ICU personnel in mechanical ventilation.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL STUDY)
June 22, 2004... INTRODUCTION: The benefit assessment of mechanical ventilation on clinical outcomes presumes competent caregivers who posses the knowledge and skills to optimize care while simultaneously minimizing potential complications. The purpose of this...

How to establish your personal "brand".(MANAGEMENT KEEPER #51)
June 22, 2004... Positioning is the process of presenting yourself to others in a way that establishes a favorable relationship with the audience. It determines how you appear to others, what they conclude about you, and how they react to you. Positioning means...

Does a PSV Weaning Guideline reduce length of stay on the ventilator?(RESPIRATORY RESEARCH)(pressure support ventilation)
June 22, 2004... For this issue, we will discuss a PI project. Our Respiratory Care Department wanted to contribute to a shortened length of stay on the ventilator by developing a therapist-driven weaning guideline. This was originally titled a protocol, but...

Central sleep apnea syndrome.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
June 22, 2004... Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is often interchanged with Sleep Apnea when actually SDB encompasses any form of disordered breathing during sleep. Not to be overlooked is Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome; characterized by a cessation or decrease...

CPAP instruction outside the residence.(continuous positive airway pressure therapy)
June 22, 2004... Compliance with continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) has been a heavily debated subject for several years and will continue to be as RCP's strive to improve patient compliance. Previously raised issues related to compliance...

Interpreting pulmonary function tests.(PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING)
June 22, 2004... The first two articles that I wrote for FOCUS Journal, published in the Winter and Spring 2004 editions, addressed test quality and the importance of separating the signal from the noise in measurements. This article will focus on what the...

Parasomnias or paranormal--things that go clunk in the night.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
June 22, 2004... The field of sleep medicine has had a long if somewhat cryptic history with the paranormal. One of the first sleep laboratories in New York City, one at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, was dubbed the Dream Lab. Work was carried out there...

"Croup revisited".(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL)
June 22, 2004... Of all the sounds that have the potential to wake one from a sound sleep few are so terrifying, especially to the new parent, as that of the barking cough and laborious tachypnic breathing of an infant with croup. When we use the term...

Pharmaceutical stocks may be the antidote to a new round of interest-rate pressure.(PERSONAL GROWTH)
June 22, 2004... When interest rates rise, investors usually head for the medicine cabinet. That's because pharmaceutical stocks have spelled r-e-l-i-e-f in difficult times. They historically perform well six months before and 12 months after a rate-tightening...

The ethical handling of ethical issues!(ETHICS IN MANAGEMENT)
June 22, 2004... It is alleged that there is nothing new under the sun, however the mapping of the human genome, stem cell research, and the like have certainly raised questions that we, as a people and as health professionals, have never had to address before...

Dolphin Medical's pulse oximetry sensors.(UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS EQUIPMENT REVIEWS)
June 22, 2004... This issue we report on our review of the disposable pulse oximetry sensor line manufactured by Dolphin Medical (Model 2000/3000 sensors). Upon our request, Dolphin supplied us with several of their infant, pediatric and adult SpO2 probes for...

Let's give 'em something to talk about.(RESPIRATORY CARE ON-LINE)
June 22, 2004... While attending the Focus Conference in Baltimore, MD, I had the privilege of guest speaking in the area of Patient Education. My topic was "Internet Resources for the Patient Educator". One point that I discussed was that health information on...

Emergency preparedness becomes top priority for Joint Commission.(JCAHO NEWS)
June 22, 2004... Since September 11, 2001, when we experienced the worst terrorist attack ever on our soil, emergency preparedness has become a much more prominent focus of the Joint Commission. The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the...

Sleep and academic performance.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
June 22, 2004... With the beginning of a new school year, parents start preparing their children to perform well in a school setting. These preparation may include getting vision checked, verifying all vaccinations are up-to-date and making sure they have a...

Need sleep tech education? Go to the source!(Buyers Guide)
June 22, 2004... NEW! Artifact & Troubleshooting Guide [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Full-color booklet with Polysomnographic recording samples designed to assist in troubleshooting during data acquisition, or as a reference during...

Health literacy.(HOT TOPICS)
June 22, 2004... The topic of health literacy is one you're surely going to be hearing a lot about. Far from just a buzzword, it reflects a growing awareness of a national problem. Broadly defined, the concept describes the relationship between literacy...

Fundamentals of Lung and Heart Sounds, Third Edition.(Audiovisual Review)
June 22, 2004... This program is comprised of a small paperback text book and an accompanying audio compact disc (CD-ROM). Both are enclosed in a hard plastic binder that allows the book to be opened without removal from the binder. A pocket is supposed to hold...

A Woman's Guide to Sleep Disorders.
June 22, 2004... This all-inclusive book highlights the fact that although sleep disorders are on the radar screen for the medical community and the public at large due to increased awareness, one population subset--women--might still go untreated. The author,...

Hyperbaric files: decompression sickness.(HYPERBARIC MEDICINE)
June 22, 2004... I just surfaced next to the boat after a 45-minute dive off the coast of Honduras. This is the southern end of the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, Australia being number one. My wife and 2 other diving companions surfaced right next to...

Ventilation without intubation in the acute care setting.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL)
June 22, 2004... Whenever a respiratory care practitioner, nurse, or physician encounters a patient requiring ventilatory support, the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) should always be considered. NPPV should be separated into two...

On a lighter side with Andy Rooney.
June 22, 2004... Taking a vacation isn't easy. There are all sorts of ways to do it wrong and I suspect that right now, here in August, a lot of you are making a mess of your vacation. First, we all ought to face the fact that planning a vacation is more fun,...

Professional staffing services.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... RTTEMPS and RNTEMPS provide qualified Respiratory Therapy and Nursing staff for short-term or long-term assignments nationwide. Founded and operated by healthcare professionals, RTTEMPS and RNTEMPS are dedicated to meeting the staffing needs of...

Audio monitoring for the sleep lab.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Louroe Electronics is a U.S. manufacturer and leader in the field of audio monitoring technology. We specialize in providing audio monitoring systems for customers requiring extra sensitive and clear audio transmission. These markets include...

O2 analyzers & replacement sensors.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... VTI manufactures O2 analyzers, monitors, and replacement O2 sensors. Our monitor is a full feature unit that remains outside of the capital budget. Our O2 analyzer has been developed for "spot checks" in instances where alarms are not...

Littmann Stethoscope Model 2000.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... 3M manufactures the Littman Electronic Stethoscope Model 2000 which amplifies sounds up to 14 times (20 decibels) greater than conventional stethoscopes. With state-of-the-art filtering systems and an ergonomic design, the Model 2000 is an...

New airway pressure monitor.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... ResMed Corp's ResAlarm II airway pressure monitor featuring a backlit LCD screen provides viewing from across a room. The peak airway pressure display and pressure bar graph verify accuracy of breath delivery. An internal battery automatically...

Oral and nasal suction device.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The Neotech Little Sucker is a soft, simple suction device designed for oral AND nasal suction of patients. It is designed to have some of the features of the bulb syringe but all the advantages of wall suctioning. Try and and you'll agree.......

New humidifier heater.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The DeVilbiss 9200 Humidifier Heater is a new addition to the DeVilbiss sleep therapy line. The DeVilbiss 9100 Humidifier stacks on top of this new heater providing an add-on solution for patients requiring heated humidity. Temperature can be...

Partnership with imt medical.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Michigan Instruments, Inc. announces the PneuView[R] Flow Analyser[TM]. Based on the imtmedical PF300 Flow Analyser[TM], the device is the perfect compliment to the PneuView[R] TTL[R] Training and Test Lung Systems. The operation of modern...

Medtrade award winner.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Excitement filled the air during Medtrade 2003 for Sunrise Medical. The latest product release from DeVilbiss, the FlexAire Mask, was chosen the Most Innovative New Product of the Year. This annual award, given by the Medtrade Group of VNU...

Portex[R] tracheostomy products.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Portex[R] manufactures high-quality tracheostomy products. Combining Per-fit[TM], D.I.C.[R], Blue Line[R] and Bivona[R] product ranges, Portex[R] offers you an unmatched selection of tracheostomy products including adult and pediatric tubes,...

VIP[TM] Oro-Nasal CPAP Vmasks.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The world's best fitting, most comfortable, leak-free Masks now have a New button-on accessory seal named the Sensa Seal[TM] which allows 5 more half-sizes to the existing range of 5 sizes. The Sensa Seal[TM] is an optional accessory to solve...

Value in pre-owned equipment.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Save 30%-40% on quality, pre-owned equipment. Excellent values on ventilators, oximeters, PFT units, end tidal CO2 monitors, oxygen monitors, cardiac monitors, stress test equipment, defibrillators and more, all backed with full warranties....

Neonatal/adult breathing simulator.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Choose Boehringer Laboratories, Inc. for accuracy and safety you can trust. For over 30 years, we have designed and produced quality instruments that clinicians choose time and time again. We feature mechanical spirometers, suction regulators,...

VORTRAN products.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... VORTRAN manufactures a unique line of inexpensive, single patient use, respiratory products for hospital and home: VORTRAN Automatic Resuscitator (VAR) -- a MRI compatible, hands-free automatic resuscitator for transport and emergency....

Home disinfection training kit.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... An introductory training package is now available for CONTROL III[R] surface and instrument home disinfecting products. This package includes educational patient materials describing product applications and usage. Product samples with patient...

Futuremed introduces "Bubbles".(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Futuremed's new SpiroVision-3+ for Windows now includes the "Bubbles" incentive display, using soap bubbles to encourage patients during spirometry testing. During an FVC maneuver, an "actual bubble" based on real test data forms within a...

New Keystone 3 PFT lung analyzer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Pulmonary Data Services, Inc. introduces the all new Keystone3, modernizing the industry standard Keystone PF Analyzer. The affordable Keystone3 is a comprehensive PF system, which performs spirometry, FRC and DLCO. The system features advanced...

Modular blood gas system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... AVL OMNI Systems offer optional menu additions for centralized and decentralized hospital testing. High volume blood gas testing, full automated quality control, touch-and-go operation, maintenance-free electrodes, liquid calibration, extensive...

Bronchial provocation device.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The TURBOAIRE CHALLENGER from EQUILIBRATED BIO SYSTEMS, INC. is an excellent source of portable arctic air for bronchial provocation and Exercise Induced Asthma studies. Perform bronchial challenge testing using cold air, without the wait or...

New product line.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Alliance Tech Medical, Inc., an international distribution and sales management company will market Clement Clarke's highly reputable and unique asthma/COPD line including MINI WRIGHT[TM], IN-CHECK DIAL[TM], and AIRZONE[TM]. Additionally, ATM...

New oxygen monitor.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... MSA is proud to offer its new portable MiniOX[R] 3000 Oxygen Monitor replacing our long-running MiniOX III Monitor. The MiniOX 3000 Monitor with large display features automatic calibration, battery strength indicator, alarm verification...

Oakes' ventilator management.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... THE GOLD STANDARD -- For quick and easy bedside reference: ACCP/AARC/SCCM Weaning/Discontinuation Guidelines, ARDS Network, COPD GOLD Standard, NIH Asthma, AHA Near-Fatal Asthma, AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines, Lung-Protective Strategies,...

New recording device website.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Watch our Product Family Grow in 2004! BRAEBON Medical Corporation invites you to visit our new website featuring the new & revolutionary MediPalm[R] family of Personal Recording Devices. For Product Technical Information, Events and...

The secretion solution.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Reducing ICU Heated Water Bath costs to near zero is the goal of ARC Medical, Inc. The ThermoFlo[TM] System provides optimal humidification so that sputum characteristics are unchanged when compared to heated water baths. The ThermoFlo[TM]...

New ventilator introduced.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The e500 Ventilator is a critical care ventilator that allows clinicians to focus on patient care. Designed for simplicity of use, the e500 provides mode selection, expanded monitoring and enhanced safety features making it ideal for...

New desktop format Spirometer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Ferraris Respiratory introduces the KoKo LEGEND, intuitive color touch screen Spirometer. With all the performance of the KoKo Spirometer in a new desktop format, the KoKo LEGEND walks both physician and patient through standard testing...

EasyOne Spirometry System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... ndd Medical Technologies offers the EasyOne Spirometry System which uses the company's patented ultrasonic flow measurement technology. This cutting edge highly configurable spirometer features FVC, FVL, SVC and MVV testing. The graphic curve...

Manual Jet Ventilator.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Instrumentation Industries, Inc.'s Manual Jet Ventilator and Transtracheal Catheter may be the emergency intervention of choice for the patient with facial trauma, partial airway obstruction, upper airway bleeding, or otherwise difficult airway...

New features on full face masks.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The ALIZES[TM] Nasal Mask is available in 3 sizes and is a steam autoclavable/pasteurizable & dishwasher safe Mask which deflects the exhaled air from the sleep mate, fits & forms to any nose shape and has the popular Comfort Seal[TM] Foam...

Cable rebuilding and replacement.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Beta Biomed offers cost effective repair, rebuild or replacement of all Pulse Ox Finger Sensor Cables and includes a one-year warranty. We also repair fetal monitoring cables. ECG recording and monitoring cables, Holter monitors, and...

Inductrotrace System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Data Examiner enhances the Inductotrace System, providing an interface to Windows 9X/NT via a RS-232 serial port from which the device is powered, (no batteries or power connection). Included software provides an effective method to capture...

Finger oximeter.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Smith Medical introduces the Digit[TM] Finger Oximeter providing fast, reliable SpO2, pulse and pulse strength measurements on pediatric--adult patients. The pocket-size Digit[TM] has a large LED display for use in many light environments,...

Comfort Seal[TM] Foam on ALIZES[TM].(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... The Comfort Seal[TM] Foam accessory is a very soft, inert, medical grade foam that is preferred by many ALIZES[TM] customers. This Foam Accessory assures a soft, comfortable, leak-free fit while sleeping with the ALIZES[TM] Mask on. The...

New octagonal sleep watch.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
June 22, 2004... Ambulatory Monitoring, Inc. now offers the Octagonal SLEEP WATCH. This innovative xmotor activity recorder with 2MB memory; event marker; 2-3 Hz filter; sensitivity .016G at mid band; and numerous codes of operation. It includes an LCD feature...