You breathe all day long, every day, without even thinking about it. But, when it is difficult for you to breathe, it is all you can think about.
National Respiratory Therapy Week 2011 is October 23-29. This is a great time to take a moment out of your day and learn about respiratory care and how your local health system offers valuable lung health resources and services for the prevention and treatment of lung disease.
Respiratory therapists are specifically trained healthcare professionals who work with physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS, and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of life-saving response teams charged with handling medical emergencies.
“Our respiratory therapists are important members of the healthcare team at Riverwood Healthcare Center,” said Michelle Bergacker, manager of Riverwood’s Cardiopulmonary department. “The respiratory therapists provide all necessary treatment for the management of respiratory disorders and complications, ranging from acute conditions to chronic conditions as well as respiratory care for those with heart and lung disorders.”
Respiratory therapists at Riverwood deliver life-saving treatments in the emergency room, manage ventilators for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, and provide treatments to patients with pneumonia, asthma and a variety of other respiratory disorders.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation is available at Riverwood’s Aitkin and McGregor locations for patients who have been hospitalized after an intervention such as stent placement, cardiac bypass surgery or valve replacement surgery.
“This is a vital part of the patient’s rehabilitation that can prevent further damage and even another heart attack,” Bergacker explains. “Pulmonary rehabilitation is a proven treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients that gives them more energy to live a better life. Patients with chronic lung disease often experience a decrease in their daily activity. They become short of breath and can’t do as much as they used to. We can help them improve their quality of life by helping them understand their disease process.”
The Riverwood Cardiopulmonary staff provides many vital treatments for the management of respiratory disorders and complications, ranging from acute to chronic conditions. Some respiratory care treatments and services include providing therapeutic gases and medications to patients, EKG’s, pulmonary function testing, emergency resuscitation, assistance in the treatment of sleep apnea, asthma education and other patient education on lung health issues.
Members of the Riverwood Cardiopulmonary staff include Pat Turner, respiratory therapist and certified asthma educator; Michelle Bergacker, manager; respiratory therapists Gary Erickson and Ethel Jaeger; and Keith Martens, certified respiratory technician.
For information on asthma education, lung function testing or any other respiratory care services, call Riverwood’s Cardiopulmonary staff at (218) 927-5312.