Ventilator Care

Ventilator Care Facilities

Unable to maintain spontaneous breathing, ventilator patients are at greater risk and require specialized care.

Suffering from a brain, spinal cord or medically complex injury is challenging enough — but patients that are experiencing some level of respiratory failure and require ventilator care are faced with even greater difficulties.  Ventilator patients are not physiologically able to maintain spontaneous breathing.  Patients most likely to experience these problems are those with neuromuscular and central nervous system diseases, and spinal cord and other medically complex conditions, such as cerebral vascular accident, myocardial infarction and multiple sclerosis.  More than 30 percent of our patients require ventilator care.  CareMeridian accepts patients that not only show potential for ventilator weaning, but those that may need long-term care placement.

These patients are at greater risk of developing infections because their respiratory systems are already compromised.  At CareMeridian, the chance of infection is significantly lessened due to the small size of each facility and the  training of staff in airway care.

The CareMeridian Difference.

CareMeridian staff are trained upon hiring and on an ongoing basis in the proper administration and weaning of ventilator care.  Staff competencies are reviewed regularly and additional training is provided if medical industry standards or ventilator technologies have changed.  In addition, CareMeridian has received accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)  and has been recognized for meeting the Commission’s healthcare quality and safety standards.

Beginning with a careful assessment of a patient’s respiratory function, a personalized ventilator care program is established and, once administered, staff is proactive in preventing many complications commonly associated with vent care, including infection.

Nursing staff doesn’t function alone in ventilator care, but is part of an interdisciplinary team that includes speech and respiratory therapists, and consultant pulmonary specialists when needed.  The CareMeridian team has been highly successful with weaning patients from ventilator support, oxygen therapy, and the discontinuation of artificial airways.   Our 24/7 commitment to our ventilator patients, along with our 1:4 staff-to-patient ratios and ongoing patient evaluations, provide our patients with the maximum opportunity of comfort, removal of ventilator dependence, and, ultimately recovery.

Ventilator and respiratory care facilities are located throughout the Western United States (California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado).