The Trach, The Vent and the Critically Ill - SOD

Course overview

The demands on rehab therapists increase with every change that occurs in the healthcare environment. Recent trends indicate that the tracheostomy patient, with or without ventilator assistance, is more frequently being transferred to lower levels of care such as the Skilled Nursing Unit or the Long Term Care setting. Thus, challenging the clinical decision making skills of the Physical, Occupational and Speech-Language Pathologists in these settings. Many therapists have not had the necessary training or exposure to adequately provide essential rehab services to this patient population. This course is focused on providing a basic introduction to the ventilator, tracheostomy and provision of therapy services to the tracheostomy patient, with or without ventilator assistance. Practical resources/ tools are provided and can be employed immediately in any healthcare setting. By the end of this course, the PT, OT and SLP will possess a greater understanding of ventilator basics, the anatomy of a tracheostomy, facilitating communication, the swallowing assessment, research that supports early intervention and creating a culture that fosters facility-specific goals versus discipline specific goals.