LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton Earns Respiratory Failure Certification

DAYTON, Ohio, March 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton has earned The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction in the management of Respiratory Failure. The certification is a symbol of the level of quality and clinical excellence the hospital's Respiratory Failure program demonstrates through its commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. The 44-bed hospital, located within Sycamore Hospital, part of the Kettering Medical Center Network, is the first in the state of Ohio to achieve this designation.

To qualify for this award, LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton underwent a rigorous on-site review, where a Joint Commission surveyor reviewed clinical practice guidelines and performance measures. The hospital's program, led by Dr. Median Ali, provides individualized treatment for patients who require pulmonary support and treatment, such as ventilators, continuous positive air-pressure machines (CPAP), high oxygen therapy, and tracheostomies.

"We are pleased to have been recognized nationally for the care we are honored to provide patients in our community," said Joe Bryant, CEO at LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton. "I am especially proud of the outstanding care team members who made this certification happen. It provides us with the framework to create a culture of excellence in respiratory care."

The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Certification, which is awarded for a two-year period, evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:

• Compliance with consensus-based national standards
• Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care
• An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities

In 2015, LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton was awarded the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in recognition of its highly qualified respiratory therapists and industry best practices in providing respiratory care.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, respiratory failure is a condition in which not enough oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood. Diseases and conditions that impair breathing, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can cause respiratory failure. Signs and symptoms include: low blood oxygen levels that cause "air hunger" (feeling like you can't breathe in enough air), bluish color on the skin, lips or fingernails, rapid breathing and confusion, sleepiness and irregular heartbeats.

LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton has offered respiratory therapy services to the Dayton community for nearly 20 years. The Respiratory Failure program was established in 2018, and in the last six months of the year, successfully treated 31 patients.   

"At LifeCare, we strive to provide our patients and their families with personalized attention and education," said Vanessa Burgan, BS, RRT, RCP, Director of Respiratory Therapy. "Many of their needs go far beyond being attached to a ventilator. This certification should offer patients the confidence of being cared for by a team recognized for its excellence."

Some of the benefits and goals that come from the education and best practices LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton employs include:

• Reduced time spent on a ventilator
• Mechanical ventilator liberation
• Reduced risk of ventilator related pulmonary infections, such as pneumonia
• Risk reduction methods to prevent patient self-decannulation (self-removal of tracheostomy equipment)

About LifeCare Health Partners
LifeCare Health Partners, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a leading health care services provider dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and maximizing their potential for healing and recovery. The company encompasses the LifeCare Family of Hospitals as well as a variety of post-acute services including transitional care, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health treatment and home-based care. Learn more at www.lifecarehealthpartners.com.

Contact: Dana Coleman, Lovell Communications
Phone: 615.297.7766
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE LifeCare Health Partners

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