Hospital respiratory folks: you gotta love 'em

[kaiasgram]

So DH was unexpectedly hospitalized this past weekend. Despite that it was 3:00 in the morning when they finally took him from the ER to the hospital in the next town over, I dutifully went home for his CPAP machine and drove it to the hospital after the ambulance transported him.

The hospital sent Respiratory up to his room to inspect and approve the use of his own machine, and they assured me that they would set up the machine for him (this hospital had no overnight accommodations for spouses so I had to go home for the night).

When I returned in the morning, I found that they had hooked up his S9 Climateline hose backwards -- as you can see, the two ends are clearly not identical. They attached the end with the electrical connection to the humidifier to his mask instead, and then pushed the other end over the humidifier port.

Good thing they 'inspected and approved' the machine, being the experts on respiratory equipment and all..........

Hospital Respiratory staff -- you gotta luv 'em

[palerider]

Hospital Respiratory staff -- you gotta luv 'em

oooooor, not.

[WRX03]

The RT must likely never had seen a CPAP while in college. The college the wife teaches at, homecare is an one class event.

[kteague]

Well that certainly doesn't give one much confidence. Hope your hubby is doing ok.

[kaiasgram]

Well that certainly doesn't give one much confidence. Hope your hubby is doing ok.

Much better Kathy, thank you As you know hubby and I met about five years ago on this very forum (coming up on 2nd Anniversary in a few days!). We’ve both been faithful CPAP users even though we have each struggled with it in various ways, and thank goodness because he may have had a worse outcome otherwise.

[jnk...]

A DME-hired RRT has a reason to learn about home machines, and a few of them actually do. But a hospital RRT has no real reason to learn home machines. Sorta like how an airplane mechanic might not know how to assemble your scooter without written instructions.

[SewTired]

FWIW, my bro goes to a major metro hospital (as opposed to smaller or rural) and I always set up his bipap before I leave. They didn't know how to attach his heated hose and gave him a generic one the first time. Also, it helps to use a Sharpie to CLEARLY mark the water line and write 'water line' because they don't know what the mark means. The nurses in ICU really appreciated that. RTs are really sharp about THEIR equipment, but as mentioned, may known very little about home-based equipment. Although bro can easily tell them what to do, he wasn't able to communicate well after a stroke.

[jnk...]

. . . it helps to use a Sharpie to CLEARLY mark the water line and write 'water line' because they don't know what the mark means. The nurses in ICU really appreciated that. . . .

Wow. Nice point! Thanks for that.

[kaiasgram]

FWIW, my bro goes to a major metro hospital (as opposed to smaller or rural) and I always set up his bipap before I leave. They didn't know how to attach his heated hose and gave him a generic one the first time. Also, it helps to use a Sharpie to CLEARLY mark the water line and write 'water line' because they don't know what the mark means. The nurses in ICU really appreciated that. RTs are really sharp about THEIR equipment, but as mentioned, may known very little about home-based equipment. Although bro can easily tell them what to do, he wasn't able to communicate well after a stroke.

I can see how the water chamber for the Autosense 10 lends itself pretty well to the sharpie mark -- less so the S9 water chamber. My hubby wasn't able to help Respiratory set up his machine either, and I had to leave before I could help the staff set it up. They *seemed* on top of the setup, even brought in the purified water for him. It wasn't too big a deal, he still used the machine and got the therapy, just not with heated humidification!

I would say that if hospital policy is to not just allow, but actually encourage patients to use their own machines (a very good policy), the staff would be trained in the setup of at least a couple of the most commonly used home machines.

All that said, in every other way this hospital delivered top notch care -- it just made me laugh when I looked at the machine and saw the awkward setup job!

[palerider]

It wasn't too big a deal, he still used the machine and got the therapy, just not with heated humidification!

The humidifier still works, he just didn't get the benefits of the heated hose.... as long as he didn't get rainout...

[archangle]

Never forget the standard nurse's answer to questions about using the patient's CPAP.

"He doesn't need CPAP, he's on oxygen."



And the attending physician agrees.

[SewTired]

Loved the photos. However, keep in mind that not everybody uses a cpap for apnea and oxygen might actually work just as well. Not the usual situation though, I admit.

[chunkyfrog]

If the patient already uses cpap, it would probably not be the best plan
to switch their treatment without a very good reason --especially in the hospital.
Of course, stuff happens in hospitals that make you wonder
if they ought to be paid at all when they mess up.

[Janknitz]

Wait until you see the bill for that "professional" set up!

[kaiasgram]

Wait until you see the bill for that "professional" set up!

Yep!