Ventilator Weaning

The Premier Ventilator Weaning Hospitals in New Jersey

When a patient cannot breathe on their own, it becomes necessary to be placed on mechanical ventilation, which is also known as being on a vent. 

While some patients are able to “wean” (no longer requiring the ventilator) quickly in their current hospital, other patients require more time and a specialized level of care.

That additional requirement of time, specialized level of care and expensive experience is what has made the ventilator weaning program at the CareOne LTAC Hospitals so successful for patients and their families over the last 17 years.

WHY IS MY LOVED ONE NOT WEANING (AND HOW CAN AN LTACH HELP?)

An LTACH, Long Term Acute Care Hospital, is the best setting for a patient that is having difficulty weaning from the vent.  There are many reasons why patients may require more time and attention to wean from a ventilator.  Some of the most common include…

1. Anxiety – After a machine has been breathing for a patient for an extended period of time, it can cause a great deal of anxiety for the patient to begin to breathe on their own again. Our team of respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians and PCTs understand that. They take the time to comfort and help patients during those times of anxiety to take them further in their individualized weaning plan.
2. Malnutrition – Ventilator-dependent patients are at an increased risk of malnutrition due to the impact of inflammation in the body. Critically ill patients have increased calorie and protein requirements to prevent muscle loss and maintain strength to wean from the ventilator. Our patients receive nutrition in a variety of ways- including tube feeding (PEG), parenteral nutrition via IV, and/or traditionally by mouth. Our full time Registered Dietitians assess each patient’s individual needs to provide adequate nutrition to support their goals. 
3. Muscle Conditioning – After not being mobile and active for an extended period of time, a vented patient can become quite deconditioned and required a specialized and unique plan of early mobilization and therapy in an LTACH setting. This includes plans for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. Therapy plans can include passive and active, active assisted, Range of Motion, bed mobility, gait training and more. While many hospital settings don’t have the ability to provide a specialized plan for vented patients, all active therapy teams coordinate closely with the respiratory team at the CareOne LTACHs for a safe environment to maximize independence before discharge.  In addition,  CareOne LTACHs are the first in the country to utilize the BEMO TheraTrainer, which has produced impressive clinical results for vented patients.
4. Compromised / damaged respiratory system – Patients who require LTACH level of care for continued vent weaning from the Short-Term Acute Care Facility are often composed of patients with the diagnosis of and not limited to COPD, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and more. The benefit of coming to a CareOne LTACH for continued ventilator management – weaning is the knowledge and experience carried by our Respiratory Therapists and RN’S who specialize in patients with these diagnoses. CareOne carries the honor of earning the Passy Muir Center of Excellence as well as carrying a 30+ percent higher national bench mark average in wean outcomes.  In addition, CareOne LTACHs also have the experience to train families in home ventilator management for patients with neuromuscular disease so they can care for their loved one at home.
5. Pulmonary Hygiene (Mucous Secretions) – Patients on a ventilator commonly produce high levels of mucous, are also known as secretions.  Managing and treating these secretions is key and having highly trained staff around the clock is extremely important to both the safety and outcomes of our patients.  In addition, the specialized mouth care program at CareOne LTACHs has set the bar for reducing ventilator associated infections. 

OUR LTACHs HAVE A PROVEN RECORD IN VENTILATOR WEANING

CareOne’s LTACH units are uniquely suited to helping people wean from a ventilator, even those who have had serious respiratory problems for a long time or who have complex medical needs beyond their pulmonary health. Thanks to the use of our advanced technology and practices and the exceptional training and skill of our staff, 76% of ventilator patients at CareOne LTACH locations wean successfully, compared to 51% on average across the country.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LTACHs

One of the foundational reasons for the successful outcomes of CareOne LTACHs is that all of our locations are physically located INSIDE of another hospital! 

A ventilated patient that is critically ill should always physically be within a fully operating hospital or medical center. 

At CareOne LTACHs, we only believe in the LTACH model, which is situated within an existing hospital or medical center. Doing so allows for tests, procedures and other medical interventions to be done as quickly as possible without having to get back into an ambulance or wait for a test result to come back from an outside entity. Ventilated patients depend on all of these interventions to be able to one day breathe on their own once again!

Time is of the essence when it comes to things like changes in status requiring an ICU (Intensive Care Unit) transfer, specialized surgical procedures, MRIs and CAT Scans, Arterial Blood Gases, and more. In addition, having on-site access to the ICU physicians of the hospital 24/7, LTACHs located within a hospital or medical center provide a safer environment for patients on a ventilator. Choosing an LTACH located inside of a hospital is not only safer but produces better clinical outcomes.

MASTERING THE “LONG WEAN”

Unlike a traditional hospital, CareOne LTACHs are designed specifically for a vented patient that requires a longer than usual length of stay.

The outcomes of our patients always originate with the care of our medical and clinical staff.  From our doctors and nurses to our physical, occupational, speech therapists, and respiratory care practitioners, everyone understands that a patient coming to an LTACH has already had a long road behind them, and our job is to make the road in front of them a success!

From the moment that a patient admits to our floor, their individualized plan is put into effect.  After a complete clinical review of what has occurred prior to their admission, treatment immediately begins. We learn a patient’s breathing patterns, understand barriers to weaning, and work to discover new ways to guide patients to a successful wean.

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY

Our highly trained staff is able to guide successful outcomes with the state-of-the-art ventilator technology that we utilize. Mastering the use of our top-of-the-line ventilators and respiratory devices is a key component of weaning success. All 3 of the CareOne LTACHs utilize brand new, state-of-the-art ventilators with a full array of ventilation modes as well as next-generation pulse oximeters for real-time respiratory feedback to drive successful outcomes.

CareOne LTACHs are generally a higher level of care than an ICU stepdown in a traditional hospital and provide state-of-the-art equipment that one would typically find in top Intensive Care Units across the country.