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

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

Notes from the dungeon.
March 22, 2004... Welcome to the Spring issue of FOCUS Journal and a special welcome to the 13,000 therapists and technologists across the country who are receiving FOCUS for the first time. With this issue we continue our subscription drive so as to increase...

How to conduct a great performance review.(MANAGEMENT)
March 22, 2004... The performance review: Too often it's an ordeal that's loathed, feared, and rescheduled until it can't be put off any longer. So common is the tendency to disparage the traditional employee evaluation that we have to wonder if the annual...

Donald F. Egan MD.(Obituary)
March 22, 2004... Donald F. Egan MD 1916-2004 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dr. Donald F. Egan passed away on May 3, 2004 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 87. Dr. Egan was a champion of the Respiratory Therapy profession. He authored the most...

Myasthenia gravis.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL KEEPER #8)
March 22, 2004... Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by recurring muscle weakness and fatigue. The name myasthenia gravis originates from the Greek words myelos and astheneia meaning, "muscle" and "weakness," respectively, and...

Sleep and blindness.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... Normally, one's sleep-wake cycle (i.e., circadian rhythm) is strongly coupled to the rise and fall of light throughout the day. Like a silent alarm, the slowly increasing brightness of daybreak gently awakens a person. The full strength of...

The politics of workloads.(Management Keeper # 50)
March 22, 2004... Gen Xers are protective of their lifestyles and, in a backlash against vanished company loyalty, are determined to avoid working too hard or too many hours. The most-asked question in recruiting interviews this spring, both with about-to-be...

Optimal patient-ventilator synchrony.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL)
March 22, 2004... There are a few terms that should be removed from the vocabulary of respiratory care practitioners. Topping the list is "vent check", followed closely by "check, drain, and maintain" and the cynical title of "knob turner". The critical care RCP...

Does pressure versus volume ventilation improve oxygenation?(RESPIRATORY RESEARCH)
March 22, 2004... Are you interested in research, but don't know where to begin? Hopefully, you'll find guidance in this new column, now featured in each issue of Focus. I am very excited about sharing some of my research interests and ideas. Those who know me...

Understanding narcolepsy.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... My first narcoleptic patient ignited the passion I still feel for sleep medicine today. I was new to sleep and had not yet absorbed the quality of life issues patients experienced with their untreated sleep disorders. My 50 year old female...

Medicare changes to home care respiratory medication reimbursement.(RESPIRATORY HOMECARE)
March 22, 2004... When President George Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act the largest changes in Medicare since 1965 became law. This document will greatly affect how Medicare recipients will receive unit dose...

More noise (and signals).(PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING)
March 22, 2004... The first article of this series introduced the principle of signal and noise in pulmonary function testing. In this one, we'll see how it affects tests of diffusing capacity (D[L.sub.CO]). Wide variation in D[L.sub.CO] among laboratories...

It's a new ballgame for mutual funds.(PERSONAL GROWTH)
March 22, 2004... For decades, the mutual fund was the vehicle of trust for the average investor because it was easy to invest in, easy to follow and easy to sell. The scandal that exploded last fall revealed we weren't fully aware of what was going on...

Modafanil: sleep medicine's magic bullet?(SLEEP MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... When penicillin first became available it ushered in a new era in the treatment of infectious diseases. Hopelessly incurable infectious diseases that engendered hand wringing among physicians and health care workers suddenly found themselves...

Where have all the young men gone?(FOCUS ON EDUCATION)
March 22, 2004... So went the lyrics of a popular 60s folk tune. The answer then was "long time passing" and the same might apply today, at least as it pertains to male enrollment in college. According to a recent report by the National Center of Education...

The phenomena of "missed" therapy.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL)
March 22, 2004... I have conflicted views regarding the reporting of omitted or missed respiratory treatments. On the one hand, the more pragmatic one, I can appreciate the administrative utility that such a numeric offers. On the other hand, the quixotic one, I...

Seasonal affective disorder--a circadian rhythm disorder.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... Working either as a respiratory therapist or a sleep technologist means that at least part of our career is spent working at night. In most cases this means working in very dim lighting for 8-12 hours at a time. After working in this type of an...

About attitudes and work values.(ETHICS IN MANAGEMENT)
March 22, 2004... According to Richard Aldington, a famous though now deceased literary critic for the NY Times, his best review was never published. He explained: "In the early days of Dada (the father of surrealism), I received for review, a book containing...

Viasys' HiOX oxygen mask.(UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS EQUIPMENT REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 22, 2004... The HiOX oxygen mask by Viasys has several features that increase oxygen delivery to the patient. This mask, at first, resembles a non-rebreathing mask. However, upon closer examination we appreciated that the HiOX mask was an entirely new...

Technology: friend and foe.(RESPIRATORY CARE ON-LINE)
March 22, 2004... Recently, I was making a small purchase of stickers for my 11 year old. The cashier rang it up to be $1.36. I handed her a twenty dollar bill. As her cash register flashed the amount of change I was due--$18.64--I dipped into my wallet for the...

Joint Commission places infection control under the microscope.(JCAHO NEWS)
March 22, 2004... Nosocomial infections have always been a challenge to health care providers. Every practitioner learned basic infection control techniques early in their professional education process. In spite of this, health care-associated infections are a...

Dealing with jet lag.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... Vacations can bring with them one of the most common sleep disorders, jet lag, especially when travelers cross several time zones. Jet lag can cause both sleepiness during the daytime and difficulty staying asleep at night. Prior to high-speed...

"Title" volume = practitioners + credentials.(HOT TOPICS)
March 22, 2004... While respiratory care practitioners from Maine to Mexico are busy treating disease and saving lives, our professional organizations operate behind the scenes to determine future directions for our profession. Over the next year, Focus will run...

Mosby's Respiratory Care Equipment.(Book Review)
March 22, 2004... There are two comprehensive "equipment" textbooks available to the respiratory therapy profession, and this is one of them. This is a hefty book; it is hardbound and has 885 pages divided into 15 chapters. I like the way it looks when you...

How to Start a Sleep Lab or Center.(Book Review)
March 22, 2004... Beginning with the first sentence in chapter one, How to Start a Sleep Lab or Center, published by Sleep Center Management Institute, (SCMI) Atlanta, gives sound and practical advice for anyone embarking on start-up of this health service. It...

Need sleep tech education? Go to the source!
March 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...

Hyberbaric files: carbon monoxide poisoning.(HYPERBARIC MEDICINE)
March 22, 2004... Is that the phone ringing or is it part of my dream? It was 3:00 AM and the hyperbaric physician on-call was on the phone. He said we had a fireman who just came in from a house fire semiconscious. His carboxyhemoglobin, or COHb, upon arrival...

On a lighter side with Andy Rooney.
March 22, 2004... More as a matter of habit than plan, we divide our days, weeks and years into parts that don't make sense. We're locked in by the fact that the earth revolves around the sun "once every 24 hours," but that figure 24, is arbitrary. Cro-Magnon...

Professional staffing services.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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....

NEW pressure transducer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
March 22, 2004... NEW for 2004! BRAEBON Corporation introduces the all new Ultima Dual Channel Airflow Pressure Transducer for accurately indicating respiratory airflow on your laboratory's polygraph. This new differential pressure transducer is less costly to...

VORTRAN products.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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...

Inspiratory Flow Meter.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
March 22, 2004... Ferraris Medical, Inc. introduces the In-Check[TM] Dial Inspiratory Flow Meter, a new training device that offers an easy solution to wondering if your patients are receiving the optimum benefits from their inhaled medications. By selecting the...

EasyOne Spirometry System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 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)
March 22, 2004... BCI, Inc., 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)
March 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)
March 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...