FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine articles from May 2006

FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine archives from May 2006

Notes from the dungeon.
May 1, 2006... At the recently completed FOCUS conference in Nashville I had the honor of introducing the keynote speaker, Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio and our honorary guest Dr. Forrest Bird. Before I did so, I thanked everyone for coming and I talked for a...

Smart mentoring: when skilled employees share their knowledge, your department wins.(MANAGEMENT)
May 1, 2006... If you're like most managers, you spend lots of time training people in policies and procedures. And why not? A talented, well oriented staff can boost productivity and make life easier for everyone. Sooner or later, though, even your best...

Klebsiella pneumonia.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL KEEPER #17)
May 1, 2006... Klebsiella pneumonia, or Friedlander's pneumonia, is caused by the microorganism Klebsiella pneumoniae. The genus Klebsiella belongs to the tribe Klebsiellae, which is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The Klebsiella microorganisms...

Hypnotic drugs and parasomnias.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
May 1, 2006... Chlordiazepoxide, which has been marketed since 1960 under the trade name Librium, was the first benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and insomnia. The development of other benzodiazepines soon followed: diazepam (Valium) in 1963; nitrazepam...

How tunnel vision can preempt your career.(MANAGEMENT KEEPER # 59)
May 1, 2006... Have you ever thought how much damage people inflict on their careers by acting on outdated, or false, assumptions? People who've been through a grueling job hunt, beaten up by a bad boss, or over-worked and underpaid often take away a lesson...

Does an objective measurement during a Mueller's maneuver predict obstructive sleep apnea?(RESPIRATORY RESEARCH)
May 1, 2006... For this issue of Focus we will discuss a Respiratory Care Practitioner Performance Improvement (PI) project selected by our practitioners who have an interest in sleep disorders. Our Sleep Center had an Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT)...

Another consequence of sleep disordered breathing?(SLEEP MEDICINE)
May 1, 2006... Reading an article about bedwetting may not be your idea of a good use of time, but if you serve a pediatric patient population, this article may indeed be worth a glance. There is now evidence that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may...

Applications of auto CPAP.(RESPIRATORY HOMECARE)
May 1, 2006... Sleep disordered breathing is prevalent in approximately one out of every four males and one out of every ten females in the U.S. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) accounts for a large percentage of these disorders. Historically, the treatment of...

Ventilatory limitation in exercise.(PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING)
May 1, 2006... Cardiopulmonary exercise testing traces its roots to the development of personal computers and the ability to integrate data from flow sensors and gas analyzers to measure not only ventilation (VE) but oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2...

What is your barrier to PAP treatment?(SLEEP MEDICINE)
May 1, 2006... I would dare say that if you are reading this article, you understand the medical benefits to treating Sleep Disordered Breathing with PAP therapy. You have an appreciation for the medical consequences and the quality of life compromises...

Nitric Oxide, (NO): a clinical primer.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL)
May 1, 2006... Recently there has been a great deal of literature concerning my favorite free radical, Nitric Oxide (NO) and so I thought it valuable to catalog a brief review of the many wonders of this excessively obliging and adaptable signaling molecule....

Healing the health care system.(ETHICS IN MANAGEMENT)
May 1, 2006... The Chicago Tribune held it up to a microscope, and found it wanting. The New York Times published a whole series about it, wondering if it could be saved. The IOM just released another report about it (The first one was called "To Err is...

Time, temperature, transport, and type of syringe: a review and recommendations.(THE BLOOD GAS LABORATORY)
May 1, 2006... This article is the result of several questions I have received recently, including; what is the current thought on icing blood gas samples? What is the recommended time delay that will prevent inaccurate results? What is the affect on results...

Pardon my intrusion.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
May 1, 2006... A recent study conducted by a University of Kentucky team led by Dr. Kevin Nelson suggests that REM intrusion (REM while awake) may be the cause of many of the near death experiences, 1000's of which are reported by people who undergo and...

No longer business as usual.(FOCUS ON RESPIRATORY HOMECARE)
May 1, 2006... Home care providers continue to experience reimbursement declines with no apparent end and the cuts negatively impact both the bottom line and employee morale. The decreases affect employers who are challenged with providing benefits and...

FAQ: personnel policies and procedures.(THE BUSINESS OF SLEEP)
May 1, 2006... Sleep lab physicians and management traditionally have been lax in having written personnel policies. Personnel policies are not to be confused with technical policies and procedures. The latter are standards used for patient care and...

Reflections on neonatal pulse oximetry.(NEONATAL RESPIRATORY CARE)
May 1, 2006... I am old enough to remember a time before the advent of pulse oximetry. That may shock some of you. It is beginning to shock me. There was a time in the NICU when there were no continuous non-invasive monitors of oxygenation, neither pulse...

Why sleepwalk when you can sleep drive.(RESPIRATORY CARE ON-LINE)
May 1, 2006... Sleep driving, not to be confused with drowsy driving, has been recently added to the lexicon of sleep medicine and phenomena of sleepwalking. This terminology was not established by experts in the sleep field but by the New York Times in an...

Sentinel Event Alert released regarding tubing misconnections.(JCAHO NEWS)
May 1, 2006... In early April, the Joint Commission released Sentinel Event # 36 regarding tubing misconnections. Entitled "Tubing Misconnections--a persistent and potentially deadly occurrence", the Sentinel Event Alert urges healthcare organizations to...

Highlights of the 6th annual FOCUS Conference in Nashville.
May 1, 2006... All I can say is, we're a very lucky profession. We now have two, excellent national conferences to attend each year. The first is the FOCUS Conference put on each Spring by FOCUS Publications, the therapist-owned company that publishes this...

Clinical instructors and preceptors: giving them the tools of the trade.(FOCUS ON EDUCATION)
May 1, 2006... In the last two issues of Focus, I wrote about the importance of clinical teaching and the best qualities of clinical instructors. For this third and final article on the topic of clinical instruction, I'll address the responsibilities that I...

Compounding respiratory medications for homecare patients.(FOCUS ON HOMECARE)
May 1, 2006... When I first started doing homecare patient visits in the early 1970s, I came upon a most interesting case. The patient was very sensitive to Bronkosol[TM] (isoetharine) but the prescribing physician felt that 0.5 ml of the drug in 3 ml of...

The AirSep LifeStyle[TM] Portable Oxygen Concentrator.(UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS EQUIPMENT REVIEWS)
May 1, 2006... Several weeks prior to writing this review, I was sitting in the Detroit airport waiting to transfer between planes. As I sat, I noticed a commotion at the airline boarding podium. Being nearby, I was able to hear the subject of the...

Oakes' Respiratory Home Care: An On-Site Reference Guide.
May 1, 2006... OAKES' RESPIRATORY HOME CARE: AN ON-SITE REFERENCE GUIDE Oakes' series of pocket-size reference books just grew larger with the addition of Respiratory Home Care: An On-Site Reference Guide. Like all the books in this series, this one is...

Critical care procedures & equipment.(HYPERBARIC MEDICINE)
May 1, 2006... For those hyperbaric medicine services that decide to treat critically ill patients, specialized equipment, procedures and training will be required. This may also result in providing services on a 24/7 basis with an "on-call" schedule and...

Digital imaging in respiratory care.(MECHANICAL VENTILATION)
May 1, 2006... Dramatic advances in imaging technology have already influenced important aspects of intensive care practice, and the respiratory care practitioner is no exception. For those of us old enough to remember "analog" equipment and their limited...

A picture is worth a thousand words.(RESPIRATORY CARE ON-LINE)
May 1, 2006... Education is the best proactive activity that we, as health professionals, can invest in for the communities that we serve. By participating in career days, health fairs, and other educational programs we can raise awareness about pulmonary...

On a lighter side with Andy Rooney.(Column)
May 1, 2006... I have what I think is bad news for people who own a home that has a lawn. James Hagedorn, the president of Scotts Miracle-Gro, just announced that his company has developed a new, slower-growing, genetically-engineered grass that hardly ever...

Rapidpoint 400/405 Series.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Bayer Rapidpoint 405 is the first blood gas system designed for point of care testing to offer an integrated CO-oximetry module. Provides an accurate assessment of the oxygenation status of critically ill patients, and allows for improved...

Audio monitoring for the sleep lab.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Louroe Electronics manufactures audio monitoring systems; several of which are especially designed for sleep applications. The system delivers crisp, clear audio, allowing the technician to closely monitor the patient. The technician can listen...

Information management solution.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... AegisPOC is the new critical care and point-of-care connectivity & information management solution from Laboratory Data Systems. Provides connectivity to vendors, blood gas, glucose, coagulation & other devices while providing functionality to...

Transtracheal oxygen.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Transtracheal Systems specializes in the design & production of innovative O2 therapy products. Each product is designed to improve oxygenation, ambulation, and quality of life for patients requiring continuous supplemental O2. Our core product...

New nasal pillows system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... ResMed's Mirage Swift nasal pillows system is one of the lightest nasal pillow systems on the market. It weighs approximately 2.5 oz (70 g) and rests lightly at the entrance of the nostrils. The Mirage Swift air tube features interchangeable...

Versatile ECG/spirometry unit.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Futuremed America introduces the P8000 Power, an economically priced instrument that lets the user start with a resting ECG and add spirometry or exercise stress testing. The P8000 has a full keyboard and the unit's high resolution screen...

Automatic respiratory products.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... VORTRAN manufactures a line of low cost, single patient, automatic respiratory products: VORTRAN Automatic Resuscitator--MRI safe, automatic resuscitator for transport or emergency ventilation for pediatric/adult patients 22 lbs. and above....

Need CEU's tonight?(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... One-stop shopping for continuing education and career advancement exclusively for healthcare professionals. Provide highest quality, state-of-the-art, non-traditional educational programs & seminars available. Updated yearly, always timely and...

Roche OMNI[R]S system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Roche OMNI[R] S system is a complete blood gas solution designed for hi-volume use. Delivers time/cost efficiencies. Maximizes uptime while providing convenience & control. Configurable menu has options for blood gas, electrolytes &...

New Full Face CPAP mask.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The New 7600 Vmask is an Oro-Nasal (Full Face) CPAP/BiLevel Mask that can be tightened or loosened in the middle of the night w/o affecting the integrity of the leak free seal because there is no hard frame or thin seal. All 5 Sizes of the mask...

90[degrees] swivel adapter.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... At first glance this product looks like a simple 90[degrees] hose barb fitting. However, this patent pending fitting swivels a full 360 degrees! Imagine the possibilities! Hose assemblies that do not kink. Improved safety. More streamlined...

High efficiency aerosol maximizer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Healthline offers the Medicator[R] family of high-efficiency, environmentally-protective aerosol drug delivery devices for bronchodilators, antibiotics, pentamadine, morphine, & methacholine, Like a "holding chamber" for a nebulizer. Routine...

New continuous nebulizer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The HOPE continuous nebulizer is improved CNBT technology, which relieves the practitioner of the laborious task of remixing SVNs every 15 minutes. HOPE allows you the ability to mix medications from one to eight hours. Heliox administration...

New swiveling hose holder.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... B & G Steel Manufacturers introduces the BRO-GHO Hose Buddy designed to be used with CPAP, air supply and oxygen hoses. This unique device turns when your patient does and takes the drag out of air supply hose, often a problem encountered with...

New Reusable Airflow Sensor.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Dymedix Corporation now has a complete line of Polyvinylidene Fluoride reusable sensors to complement their existing line of disposable PVDF sensors & electrodes. The RealFlo[TM] Reusable Airflow Sensor is available as a highly accurate sensor...

New tabletop Mini-Pasteurmatic.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... This edition to Olympic's Pasteurmatic line is ideal for low volume reprocessing needs. Its tabletop design requires no hard wiring or plumbing--just fill it with tap water and plug it in. Like all Pasteurmatics, the Mini uses only hot water to...

Respiratory inductive plethysmography.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... * Superior technology for identifying and differentiating sleep apneas and for detecting hypopneas * Greater accuracy and sensitivity * The ability to assess thoracoabdominal coordination * Minimization of motion artifact. RIP is considered the...

New features on nasal mask.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Former NFL running back Owen Gill & many other patients claim that the ALIZES[TM] Nasal Mask is the world's best nasal mask and that it has saved their life. They claim it is very comfortable and quiet. The newly upgraded ALIZES[TM] Nasal...

Servo ventilators from Maquet.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... For 30+ years, SERVO ventilators have been recognized as the leading name in ventilation technology. From its non-invasive option on the SERVO-i to the new SERVO-s for chronic care, SERVO is recognized for providing ventilation for neonatal,...

Website voted best for PFT supplies.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Easy to search by catalog number or keyword, vacumed.com lists most common and many unusual PFT and Stress testing products, including photos, specifications, cross references, prices and quantity discounts: Filters, Mouthpieces, Nose Clips,...

New CPAP Interface.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Hudson RCI, a division of Teleflex Medical, is proud to introduce the NASAL-AIRE[R] II Critical Care CPAP Interface. Unique design features make it the ideal patient interface for Non-Invasive Ventilation. The ergonomic design fits any face and...

Trusted, full range HME.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... For 15 years, the ThermoFlo[TM] System from ARC Medical has been trusted to provide humidification to patients from intubation to extubation. ThermoFlo[TM] has earned a reputation for being the finest in its field of HME devices. No competitive...

New ventilator introduced.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Newport e500 is a critical care ventilator for infant/pediatric & adult application. Can be used for invasive & non-invasive vent. Provides comprehensive mode selection, including dual modes VTPC & VTPS, expanded monitoring & a smart alarm...

Original inductive plethysmograph.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Ambulatory Monitoring, Inc. provides the Intuctotrace original inductive plethysmograph design--standard for monitoring respiratory volume changes from the chest/abdominal wall. Respiratory patterns reflecting intercostal/abdominal changes,...

EasyOne Spirometry System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... 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...

Hi-flow oxygen delivery.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Standard in High Flow Therapy. Vapotherm, Inc. produces the Vapotherm 2000i, a respiratory therapy device that allows hi-flows of breathing gases to be delivered by nasal cannula or other interfaces using a unique membrane technology to...

New sleep sensors from SLP.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... SLP Inc. recently introduced the SleepSense[R] family of sensors for recording sleep studies. Included are sensors for respiratory effort (disposable/reusable), airflow, motion detection, body position & snoring. In addition to the...

New CPAP Moisture Therapy product.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... "Compliance made Simple", CPAP Moisture Therapy (tm) is a new product especially designed to break the dry skin cycle and lock in moisture so essential to users of CPAP equipment used to treat sleep apnea. For over a decade LouSal Enterprises...

Respiration Monitors.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Rochester Electro-Medical, Inc. offers a complete line of Respiration Monitors for recording nasal/oral airflow. The newest version of their popular UltraFlow[TM] cannula-style monitor is available in Adult/Child sizes & features a thinner,...

New 3 in 1 handheld monitors.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Smiths Medical PM, Inc. offers Pulse, SpO2, and CO2 monitoring, in easy-to-use hand-held devices. The BCI[R] 3301 is an affordable pulse oximeter, while the BCI[R] 3303 provides pulse ox monitoring w/ alarms, rechargeable battery, and...

MRI / Transport Ventilator.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The pNeuton Transport Ventilator (pronounced new-ton) provides adult/pediatric volume targeted ventilation and high performance CPAP for use in Hospital, MRI and EMS environments. Pure pneumatic technology eliminates the need for any batteries....

New sleep audio broadcast.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Sleepmate[R] Technologies announces the sleep industries first bi-weekly SleepNews[TM] audio broadcast by Sleepmate Radio[R]. The broadcasts can be found at Sleepmate.com where you will also find information on subscribing free of charge to the...

Airway Clearance System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Electromed, Inc.'s SmartVest[R] Airway Clearance System uses High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) therapy to deliver effective and well-tolerated airway clearance treatment for patients who are otherwise at risk of developing...

New TOTAL 02 Delivery System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... CHAD Therapeutics offers the revolutionary TOTAL 02 Delivery System, which combines stationary and portable oxygen in one safe, simple device. It provides the flexibility to fill seven popular cylinder sizes to a full 2000 psi capacity and can...

Medcare is now "Embla".(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Medcare is now "Embla". We are a new company with a new focus on being closer to our customers. With a global headquarters now in Denver, Colorado we are closer to our largest customer base. Centralized and expanded support teams in both Europe...

Spirometer and PF Lab filters.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The NAGEL Network, Inc. offers the four leading manufacturers of viral filters guaranteed to fit any spirometer or PF Lab. As the leading national distributor of filters we guarantee the lowest prices. Same day shipping. Overnight delivery also...

Polysomnography courses.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and Technology offers 5 and 8 day intensive courses in clinical polysomnography for physicians, technologists, respiratory therapists, and allied health care professionals to address the needs of the entry...

Manual Jet Ventilator.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... 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...

Continuous oxygen analyzer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Portable and easy to use, the MiniOX 3000 Oxygen Monitor is perfect for "in line" oxygen monitoring in such applications as hospital and home ventilators, NICU, and anesthesia delivery equipment. The MiniOX 3000 Monitor features high and low...

Reusable compatible oximetry sensors.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Dolphin 2000/3000[TM] sensor line provides a full range of reusable and disposable compatible pulse oxsensors, including Nellcor[R] compatible sensors. Dolphin Medical has developed more than 150 oximetry sensors, including hi-volume, low...

New generic albuterol medication.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Nephron Pharmaceuticals introduces the first and only FDA approved generic version of Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 0.042% individually foil wrapped and bar coded. Therapists or patients no longer have the exhausting task of using...

Cap-based electrode system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Compumedics introduces our latest innovation in sleep diagnostics. Quik-CapPSG is a cap-based electrode application system customized for use in the Diagnostic Sleep environment. Over 8+ years experience building quality electrode caps for...

Value in pre-owned equipment.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... 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, backed with full warranties....

New actigraphy system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The Actiwatch actigraphy system, from Respironics/Mini Mitter, enables you to record the sleep/wake patterns, light exposure and subjective scores from your sleep-disordered patients for weeks at a time. Applications for which the Actiwatch...

02 analyzers & replacement sensors.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... On May 1st, VTI, for two decades a leading manufacturer of oxygen and blood-flow monitoring products, moves from Lowell, MA to new offices and R & D and production facilities in Nashua, NH. "It's essential we move," says VTI's VP, David Regan....

New desktop format Spirometer.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... Ferraris Respiratory introduces the KoKo LEGEND, an 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...

Home disinfection training kit.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... All Control III surface & instrument disinfectants have a pleasant odor, require no ventilation & are easily disposed. Disinfectant Germicide -- Concentrated formula. 10-min contact time for disinfection. Solution can be re-used for 14 days....

Leader in sleep medicine education.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS)
May 1, 2006... The School of Sleep Medicine, Inc., a member of the Stanford Univ. Center of Excellence for the Diagnosis & Treatment of Sleep Disorders is globally recognized as the leader in sleep medicine education. We take pride in providing comprehensive,...