Health ServicesRespiratory Care
Respiratory Care Practitioners play an integral role in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Respiratory Therapy has 34 full-time and 4 part-time Respiratory Care Practitioners. This large number is needed to provide 24-hour coverage for adult, neonatal, and geriatric patients hospitalized in the following areas:
In addition to traditional therapy, our advanced practice includes:
Medical Director: Richard Potts, DO
Respiratory Care Sleep Disorders Center
A fully accredited sleep disorders center is available to evaluate and treat a variety of sleep disorders. Click here for more information.
Director: Mary Feldhausen (920) 431-3242
Supervisor: Marla VanLanen (920) 433-8316
Medical Director: Richard Potts, MD
What is a Respiratory Care Practitioner?
Respiratory Care Practitioners work to evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Those people include patients with chronic lung problems—such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema—but they also include heart attack and accident victims, premature infants, and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS.
Respiratory Care Practitioners perform procedures that are both diagnostic and therapeutic. Some of these activities include:
Diagnosis
This program is designed to assist those people interested in kicking the habit for good. Offered in three sessions; two sessions are 1 1/2 hours each, one week apart, and the 3rd session is a telephone follow up. Minimum group of eight. Appointments required. There is a fee for this program.
- Medical Intensive Care
- Neuro Intensive Care
- Coronary Intensive Care
- Thoracic Surgery
- Palliative Care
- Cardiopulmonary Lab
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Pediatric Intensive Care
In addition to traditional therapy, our advanced practice includes:
- Bronchoscopy assistance
- Cystic Fibrosis Resource Center
- Mechanical ventilator management and weaning
- Nitric Oxide administration
- Respiratory Therapy Consult Service (RTCS)
- New and innovative therapies and procedures
- Respiratory Care Education and Resources
Medical Director: Richard Potts, DO
Respiratory Care Sleep Disorders Center
A fully accredited sleep disorders center is available to evaluate and treat a variety of sleep disorders. Click here for more information.
Director: Mary Feldhausen (920) 431-3242
Supervisor: Marla VanLanen (920) 433-8316
Medical Director: Richard Potts, MD
What is a Respiratory Care Practitioner?
Respiratory Care Practitioners work to evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Those people include patients with chronic lung problems—such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema—but they also include heart attack and accident victims, premature infants, and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS.
Respiratory Care Practitioners perform procedures that are both diagnostic and therapeutic. Some of these activities include:
Diagnosis
- Obtaining and analyzing sputum samples
- Perform Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) to determine lung function/impairment
- Study disorders of people with disruptive sleep patterns like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Operating and maintaining various types of highly sophisticated equipment to administer oxygen or to assist with breathing
- Employing mechanical ventilation in treating patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own
- Monitoring and managing therapy that will help a patient recover lung function
- Administering medications in aerosol form to help alleviate breathing problems and to help prevent respiratory infections
- Maintaining a patient’s artificial airway, one that may be in place to help the patient who can’t breathe through normal means
- Educating the patient about their disease process and treatments their physician has prescribed
This program is designed to assist those people interested in kicking the habit for good. Offered in three sessions; two sessions are 1 1/2 hours each, one week apart, and the 3rd session is a telephone follow up. Minimum group of eight. Appointments required. There is a fee for this program.
