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Introducing… RTCalc June 11, 2013

Posted by admin in : Education/Studies, Featured Articles , comments closed

Along comes a great IOS app that really blows me away in terms of usability AND functionality.

AND, It works on IOS 7!!!!!

As any RT knows, there are times where you just need that 1 equation of calculation at work that you either forgot or just don’t have the time to figure out.

Well, Ronnald Grant has just done that with RTCalc.

Let the developer/programmer introduce the app:

 

rtcalc

Hello, My name is Ronnald Grant. I have been in the respiratory therapy field for over 25 years. I’ve had the pleasure as a student to work with the guy who invented the inline suction catheter back in 1984 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma Wa. Since then I’ve always had the desire to give back to hospitals and to respiratory therapist.

During the last 2.5 years i’ve spent a great deal of time creating an app for respiratory therapist. The app is called RTcalc and is available for the iPhone, with an Android version coming out soon. You can check it out

here:

I accept ideas, requests, and critical reviews which serves to help make RTcalc better. Once you have RTcalc you can enter reviews or requests by clicking on the [ ? ] – help button for an easy to fill out email feedback form.

Ronn Grant RCP/Programmer

 

 

Here are some screenshots in action:

 

 

IMG_1026

 

 About the App and Developer. Excellent and easy way to send feedback. It opens up your mail app for you to send ideas, equation requests, etc…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Duration of flow calc and timer !

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IMG_1025

Some great equations

IMG_1021

1 Respiratory

 

 

2 Cardiac and Tools

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3 Respiratory Medications Cheat Sheet

 

 

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4 Help Menu

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I have found this IOS app very easy to use. The developer states in an email that new equations are easy to add, so hopefully updates will come fast and frequent from feedback. Personally, I’d like to see more PFT and neonatal information and I am surprised the the Anoon Gap calculation was NOT included. I did use the internal feedback method to suggest these items earlier today but have not heard back yet.

It is quite pricey compared to the usual $0.99 cents we are accustomed to, however the app does provide such a wealth of info and tools that it would take you many more apps like this to fulfill the majority of your requirements clinically. That is, if they even exist.

Great app, and in retrospect such a good value for the money and an absolute MUST HAVE!!!

 

Clinicians Share VAP Prevention Strategies November 5, 2010

Posted by PeterD in : Strategies , comments closed

Checklist for Implementing VAP Prevention Best Practices

Mike Hewitt, RRT-NPS, FAARC, FCCM, director of respiratory, pulmonary, sleep and neurology at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md. Offers the following checklist:

1. All ICU patients shall be assessed upon admission, PRN and before discharge out of the ICU by the ICU therapists. Included in their assessment will be a current chest X-ray, cough ability and quality, oxygenation, secretions and patient mobility. A transfer report must be called to the receiving therapist on all patients leaving the ICU by the ICU therapist.

2. Patients who have atelectasis and/or consolidation shall be placed “bad” lung up to facilitate expansion and mobilization of secretions in the affected lung during delivery of their respiratory treatments.

3. Patients with a bilateral process shall be positioned appropriately positions as determined by the respiratory therapist  during their therapy.

4. Perform deep breathing and coughing therapy.

5. Evaluate trach suctioning every four hours and as needed.

6. Reassess patients every 72 hours to determine appropriateness of current therapies.

7. At these 72-hour intervals, the therapy must be discontinued, modified, or reordered as is. The therapy may be modified be-fore the 72-hour mandatory assessment period when indicated for changes in status. Appropriate documentation is required and will support whichever course of action is taken.

8. Assessments shall be performed between the mandatory 72 hour assessments as appropriate for monitoring the patient’s status.

9. Changes to therapy must be communicated to the primary team and the notification documented, including the name of the party notified.

Patient Entry Criteria to ICU:

— Post operative laparotomy or thoracotomy

— Two or more rib fractures

— Prolonged bed rest (anticipated more than three days)

— Chest tube in place

— Pre-existing airway disease

— Older than 65 years)

— Any patient with IS ? 15 cc/kg/IBW

Patients shall remain on q4 therapy for as long as they meet any aspect of the entry criteria listed above. For patients that are 65 years of age or older, at least one additional component of the entry criteria must be met to continue q4 therapy.

Exiting Criteria from ICU:

—  More than five  days post-operative laparotomy or thoracotomy with none of the entry criteria present

—  Patient freely mobile

—  IS ? 15 cc/kg/IBW x 24 hours

—  No active respiratory process

—  No other evident factors placing the patient at risk for pulmonary complications

—  More than 72 hours post ICU discharge and absence of active or evident pulmonary complication

Once a patient meets the exit criteria, their treatments shall be changed to PRN and they shall receive a pulmonary assessment q12 until discharge. This assessment shall be documented.

Clinicians Share VAP Prevention Strategies.

Who we are September 18, 2010

Posted by admin in : General , comments closed

 

I have setup this site as a non-profit, resource base for Respiratory Therapists, students, and other allied health care professionals. This site is dedicated to providing current information as it pertains to respiratory therapy.

You can read more about me in the “About” section.

The role of the Respiratory Therapist is ever evolving, and as technology advances it is our duty to stay abreast of current advances in respiratory medicine. The way we ventilate today is drastically different from 15 years ago, and we must keep up with new strategies and methods of improving the lives of patients who have difficulty breathing.

We are developing a resource site for respiratory therapists and other allied health care profesionals. If you would like to contribute an article, be a writer, or have something  to add, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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